JACK Brooks says he still dreams of an England cap after being drafted back into the Lions set-up.

The 30-year-old Yorkshire pacemen, who hails from Tiddington, was at Loughborough yesterday for an England Performance Programme assessment with coach Andy Flower.

Brooks hopes this will lead to him being named in the England Lions squad later this autumn for the national second team’s 2015 tour of South Africa.

“If I am involved with the Lions set-up come new year, then I hope to be the next cab off the rank for the national team,” said former Oxford and Oxfordshire seamer Brooks.

Latest Sport news

“When I was involved with the Lions before, England were the best side in the world and there was not much chance to prog-ress, but it’s a bit different now.

“If you perform for the Lions, you have always got a chance.

“Hopefully, if I am still involved this time and they have to look for someone else, I will get the job.

“I certainly don’t want to get too carried away, but that would be a dream come true.”

Brooks was given a winter training schedule yesterday and is expected to attend the Lions’ seam bowling camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa, during November.

Tonight, the Oxford Mail columnist attends the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) dinner in London where he is one of four shortlisted for the player-of-the-year award.

Reflecting on this and winning the LV= County Championship with Yorkshire, he said: “It has been a bit surreal when you break it down to where I have come from in the last few years.

“It is a testament to how hard I have worked. I have made the most of my ability.

“It’s been an unbelievable summer. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Brooks paid tribute to the impact England bowlers and Yorkshire teammates Ryan Sidebottom and Liam Plunkett, who was his housemate last year, have had on him.

“You see how they go about their business,” he said.

“I have picked up a lot of stuff from Ryan. There is nothing he doesn’t know about bowling.

“Liam was playing for England as a youngster while I was still playing village cricket.

“To see him get back into the England team was inspiring.”

Brooks will soon head off for a one-month holiday in the USA.

“It will be quite nice to get away from everything and recharge my batteries,” he said.

“When I come back, I will have to get myself straight back into it.”

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.