The career of Simon Kerrigan

Simon Kerrigan is unlikely to play in the Oval Test but looks set for a tour place (PA)

Simon Kerrigan was the surprise call-up into the 14-man England squad for the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. The young Lancastrian might be uncapped for England across any format of the game, but the 24-year-old seemingly has the pedigree to make the step up.

Kerrigan made his first-class debut for Lancashire against Warwickshire in April 2010. Not known for his prowess with the bat he made three & two runs across the two innings of the match. However, his performance with the bat was decidedly better, claiming two wickets for 44 in Warwickshire’s first innings and following that up with five wickets for 43 in the second innings. The spinner was only bought into the side after an injury to leading wicket-taker from the previous year – Gary Keedy – in pre-season. Kerrigan would go on to take 30 wickets in 13 first-class matches that year at an average of 32.23, with three five-wick hauls. He also claimed 11 wickets in his debut T20 season.

In 2011, Kerrigan was Lancashire’s second spinner but still managed to capture 24 wickets in the County Championship across four games, including two particularly explosive matches. Again Warwickshire were one of his victims, with Kerrigan claiming two for 19 in the first innings and then five for just seven in the second during a Lancashire win at Edgbaston in May.

In September, Kerrigan claimed Lancashire’s best figures since 1953 with nine for 53 in Hampshire’s second innings to help propel Lancashire to the title. The spinner claimed the final wicket with just four minutes left in the penultimate game to keep Lancashire’s title hopes alive.

By 2012 he was the county’s main spinner, and despite relegation from the Championship’s top tier, Kerrigan claimed 44 wickets at 34.81 in a summer that was said to not suit spinners.

Kerrigan has continued this form into Lancashire’s current season in the Second Division, claiming 47 wickets at 20.23, with a best innings total of seven for 63 and best match figures of 12 for 252 across 10 matches.

Internationally, Kerrigan made his first-class debut for England Lions, the country’s second-string, in August 2012 – taking six for 59 against Australia A, with more appearances for the Lions following, including the recent two-day game at Northamptonshire, where he claimed one for 66.

• First-class matches: 48

• Wickets: 164

• Best figures: 9-51

• Average: 26.52

• Strike rate: 56.8