FORMER Enfield star and one-time Blackburn Rovers footballer Keith Barker has landed his first international call after being picked for the England squad for the prestigious Hong Kong Sixes tournament next month.

Barker, right, who was part of the Warwickshire side to claim the County Championship title this year, has impressed and had been mentioned as a potential England man, especially in the shorter forms of the game.

And he got the news he was waiting for yesterday when he was called into the squad for the tournament at the Kowloon Cricket Club at the end of next month.

Chorley’s Lancashire all-rounder Tom Smith has also been selected for the seven-man squad for the Hong Kong showpiece on October 27 and 28.

There is also local interest in the England Performance Programme’s squad for the tour to India with Lancashire spinner Simon Kerrigan claiming a place.

Batsman James Taylor is also included despite being part of the England side at the latter end of the summer.