Pennington emotions 'all over the shop' since call-up

Nottinghamshire fast bowler Dillon Pennington says he is ready to make an impact with England after learning of his Test call-up at a motorway service station.

The 25-year-old, who is in his first season with Notts after leaving Worcestershire last winter, has been named in the England squad that will take on the West Indies in the first of three Tests starting next Wednesday.

He says the phone call about his selection took him by surprise and admits he initially had to put the conversation on hold while he was travelling with his Notts team-mates to face Lancashire in the County Championship.

"I got a call from [England coach] Brendon McCullum on the coach on the way to Southport," he told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"I didn't know when they were picking the side, or how they go about it.

"It was quite interesting and I had to just wait until the service station. And it was a actually a long 30 minutes while I waited, but amazing when I managed to speak to him and hear from him. It was pretty crazy."

Dillon Pennington could make his England debut on 10 July at Lord's

Pennington, who has taken 31 County Championship wickets at an average of 23.80 this season, says the week since his selection has been a "rollercoaster".

"Emotions have been a little all over the shop," he added.

The right-armer's Test call-up comes just months after he made his move to Trent Bridge, where he now plays under former England coach Peter Moores and national team fast bowling coach Kevin Shine.

Pennington said working with the pair has been "really special".

"Shiney has been outstanding from the world go, he has given me a lot of confidence," Pennington continued.

"We have done a lot of work together, spent a lot of time together talking and doing a few bits technically that have put me in a position to get picked."

With Pennington taking 140 first-class wickets for Worcestershire, the club he emerged with as an academy player, he had already been touted as a potential England player of the future before joining Notts.

"I think there was elements of my game getting good and it was just taking time," Pennington said.

"I just felt the move was going to progress that, and I think it has - I think Shiney has improved my cricket.

"I’m definitely in a place where I'm confident to go into international cricket now and try to play well."