CALNE’S Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson has been handed a late call-up to the England Performance Programme.

England selectors announced this morning that left-arm spinner and batsman Dawson has been added to the EPP squad for the winter alongside Surrey pace bowler Mark Footitt.

Dawson comes in to the squad in place of Surrey’s Zafar Ansari, who is still recovering from a thumb injury.

The 25-year-old endured a topsy-turvy season, having spent a short time on loan at Essex to help rediscover his form.

Swindon-born Dawson will attend a two-and-a-half week batting and spin camp in Dubai starting on Wednesday, November 11.

Meanwhile, Footitt will become the eighth member of the fast bowling group - joining Purton and Gloucestershire fast bowler Craig Miles - due to travel to South Africa on the same date to take part in a ten-day training camp in Potchefstroom.

From South Africa, Miles and the rest of the EPP fast bowlers will fly to Dubai to join up with the EPP batting and spin bowling group for a further training opportunity in sub-continent conditions, ahead of the England Lions T20 series against Pakistan ‘A’, which gets under way on Monday 7th December.

Former Chippenham player James Vince, a team-mate of Dawson’s at Hampshire, is set to captain the Lions.

Dawson and Miles will first take part in a four-day EPP training camp for all players at the National Cricket Performance Centre (NCPC) in Loughborough next week.

“Congratulations to both Liam and Mark on their selection for this winter’s England Performance Programme (EPP),” said national selector James Whitaker.

“The training camps in Dubai and Potchefstroom next month present an ideal opportunity for them to work closely with the EPP lead coaches and experience what it is like to be in an England environment.

“This is essential as they continue to develop their all-round games and push for future international recognition.

“It is unfortunate that Zafar’s recovery from injury has not progressed at a rate that would allow him to participate fully in the EPP batting and spin camp in the UAE at present.

“But we will continue to monitor his progress closely and will consider involving him in the later stages of the EPP and Lions programme this winter, once he regains full fitness.”