Michael Carberry was surprised to be named in the England A squad for next month's tour of Bangladesh.

The Hampshire opener was told of his call up just before Christmas by John Abrahams, the assistant coach at the England Academy in Loughborough, where Carberry has been training since the end of last season.

Carberry, 26, was preparing to take English youngsters for a tour of Barbados with former England fast bowler Alex Tudor during next month's World Cup.

Instead the former England Under-19 international departs on February 14 for two four-day matches and three one-day games against Bangladesh A.

Carberry said: "I was a bit surprised but very happy when I got the call.

"Over the last few years it has generally been younger guys who have got the call and I thought that maybe, at 26, it had passed me by.

"I've never played for England at any level since U19 but it's not for the lack of trying.

"I worked hard last season to perform well at county level and it's nice when that gets recognised."

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