By Tom White
Simon Kerrigan has vowed to learn from his previous experience with England if he is selected for the second Investec Test against India at Lord’s.
The Lancashire spinner was named in a 14-man squad for Thursday’s clash which was announced at the close of play yesterday at Trent Bridge, where the opening game in the five-match series ended as a draw.
Kerrigan, who recently trained with England, made his international debut against Australia at the Kia Oval last summer, in the drawn fifth Test of the Ashes series won 3-0 by the hosts.
He bowled only eight overs and returned figures of 0-53 but is determined not to let that experience affect him should he be deployed at the home of cricket.
"Over the winter I learned more about my action and about the mental side of the game,” he said after day one of Lancashire’s LV= County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire at Liverpool.
“As a professional cricketer you're always learning. I learned from last year's Test that the sun will come up the day after that and that it's not the end of the world.
“What happened is in your thoughts a little bit but I know my job is to bowl spin and I bowl it every day so it’s no different. I have to learn from every experience I get and keep progressing.
"I keep striving for perfection and keep working towards my goal, which is to get into the England side and to bowl well for England. It's a really good set-up with Peter Moores, Paul Farbrace and Chris Taylor so I hope I can take a lot from last week into this week.
“The week with England has definitely helped. I know a lot of the lads from previous trips and familiar faces help. Hopefully I get a chance to show off my skills, what I do in county cricket, on the big stage.”
Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali has been the primary spin option for England in this summer’s Tests, against Sri Lanka and then for the opening game of the current series.
Kerrigan gives Alastair Cook and the selectors the option of a more traditional frontline spinner, as well as the variety of a slow left-arm bowler.
"There's not been a frontline spinner picked in the Tests so far, so you'd be lying a little bit if you said you weren't looking at that as a goal,” said the 25-year-old.
“If you do well against Indian batsmen you can do well against anyone, really.”