Kent seamer Matt Coles excited by England Lions call-up

Kent's Matt Coles says he is 'chuffed to bits' to be named in the England Lions squad to face West Indies.

Coles, 21, has kept his place after replacing Stuart Meaker during the winter tour of Sri Lanka and making an impressive start to the county season.

The paceman told BBC Radio Kent: "I'm just chuffed to bits and really looking forward to the opportunity.

"I know I've done well at the beginning of the year but I didn't expect it to come so soon into the season."

Coles has been in destructive form for Kent, taking 20 wickets in three matches so far this season, including a career-best 6-51 against Northamptonshire.

As well as being the club's leading wicket-taker, he also scored his maiden first-class century against Yorkshire.

Coles is the only player in the 12-man Lions squad for the four-day game against West Indies, starting on 10 May, who has yet to make an appearance for England's second-string side.

He highlighted his work in Loughborough on England's strength and conditioning programme as the main factor behind his early season form.

"The strength and conditioning programme with the ECB I was on during the winter has definitely got me a lot stronger.

"No doubt that has a massive impact," he said.

"It has been the perfect start to the season and hopefully I can maintain that for the rest of the year and stay strong.

"Fingers crossed and touch wood that I don't get any nasty injuries during the year," Coles added.