Matt Parkinson eyeing England Test debut in Sri Lanka: "Hopefully the wickets will be raggers"

The Lancashire spinner staked a claim for a place with four wickets on day two of the warm-up game against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Katunayake

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Uncapped spinner Matt Parkinson hopes his lack of red-ball experience does not count against him when England select their Test side for the series in Sri Lanka later this month.

The 23-year-old has been included in the five-day squad for the third tour in a row but is still waiting for his international bow in the format.

Jack Leach and Dom Bess are the front-runners to lead the attack in Galle and Colombo, with captain Joe Root lending support.

Parkinson, who has just 20 first-class appearances to his name, has two warm-up matches to stake a claim for a berth and has wasted little time impressing with figures of 4-68 on day two against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Katunayake.

He did make white-ball appearances for his country in New Zealand and South Africa and is feeling increasingly comfortable at this level.

"There haven't been many days yet in a white shirt, but to get four wickets was very pleasing," he said. "I hope I'm becoming a better bowler and I can use what I've learned.

"I was in South Africa for two months and a bit, so you'd be wrong not to try to get the most out of the trip. Hopefully, I've done that.

"Having not played much red-ball cricket, I needed to prove I can take wickets and almost get over the nerves of bowling with these lads. I'm still very raw with the red ball and I think people sometimes forget that spinners develop later.

"Being picked on three-Test tours, the expectations are raised, but I've only played 20 first-class games, so I'm still very new to red-ball cricket.

"I found it difficult to bowl spin in New Zealand and South Africa but hopefully the (Test) wickets in Galle and Colombo will be raggers."