TOM Alsop’s desire to throw everything into his breakthrough season has only been strengthened by his England Lions call-up.

This summer, the 20-year-old left-hander has fully broken in to the first-team picture at Hampshire and the Rowde youngster was rewarded for his impressive recent form by being called up to replace the injured Joe Clarke for the last two matches of the Lions’ Tri-Series.

Although he didn’t receive any match-time, Alsop was at Canterbury to watch England’s second string beat Pakistan A by 56 runs on Sunday and beat Sri Lanka A on Monday and, having hit his maiden first-team century for Hampshire in a One-Day Cup victory over Surrey last month, his Lions experience has left him hungry for even more new experiences.

“After playing in the T20 for Hampshire (against Middlesex) on Friday night, I was back in Wiltshire on the Saturday but then I got a call from Giles White, the director of cricket, to say that I’d been called up by the Lions,” said Alsop, who also saw Hampshire team-mate and fellow Wiltshire cricketer Liam Dawson take two wickets in both matches.

“I’d left my kit down in Southampton, so I had to race down there and pick it up before getting up to Kent.

“It was a surprise but it’s really nice to know that you’re in the minds of the England Lions selectors and it was great that I could see some familiar faces like Daws, Ben Duckett and George Garton.

“Training was really individualised and the emphasis was on making sure every individual got the most out of it. Graham Thorpe was at nets and Andy Flower (Lions coach) was there too, which was great.

“I didn’t play but it was an amazing experience. I also got to see three special knocks, so I was treated there.

“Being involved gives you that motivation to carry on doing as well as you can and keep performing so that you’re involved again.”