WORCESTERSHIRE all-rounder Ed Barnard has earned his first call-up by England Lions for the rest of the Tri-Series.

Barnard has been chosen for Tuesday’s match with India A at Leicester and Thursday’s game with West Indies A at Northampton.

He will be unavailable for Worcestershire's Championship match with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge from Monday (2pm).

Barnard scored nearly 600 Championship runs and claimed 47 wickets in 2017 and has continued in the same vein this season.

He returned a career-best 6-37 against Somerset at Taunton and match figures of 11-89.

Barnard has also made crucial lower-order runs regularly.

The former under 19s international is a Lions replacement for injured Somerset paceman Craig Overton.

Barnard said: “It’s my first Lions call-up and I’m very proud.

"It is said a lot but any time you get the chance to represent your country is an honour and a privilege.

“To get the call was very nice and especially to top off with what was a great day with the win for Worcestershire (over Lancashire).

“I got the call about half-an-hour after I came off the pitch.  I had a missed call so I rang Ed Smith (national selector) back and he said I’d been picked to play the last couple of games of the Tri-Series and then maybe the final.

“Kevin Sharp (County head coach) said congratulations and that he was very proud and said all the club think it is brilliant it has happened.

“It has always been an ambition of mine. I’ve said before I want to play as high as I can.

“I wanted to do as well as I can for Worcestershire. We’ve had Leachy (Joe Leach) and Tonguey (Josh Tongue) out of the attack through injuries and it’s been really important the rest of us step up and fill their shoes.”

Sharp said: “I’m really pleased for Ed. It is a selection that is well merited and he showed again in this game (Lancashire) what a fine asset he is to Worcestershire.

“He has really developed as a player into an excellent cricketer since I first worked with him in the second XI and is becoming a fine bowler and also a batsman who I feel sure will eventually move up the order.

“It is a blow for us at Nottingham, especially with the injuries we currently have, but you have to get on with it and there is an opportunity for someone else to step up.”