JIMMY Adams received the perfect birthday present when he was included in England’s Cricket Performance Programme squad.

Adams is joined by Hampshire teammates Danny Briggs and opening partner Michael Carberry in the 16-man party to tour Australia later this year. The Winchester-born left-hander, who turned 30 last week, said: “I’m absolutely chuffed, this is an opportunity I’ve been dreaming about for a long time and I’m going to give it 100 per cent.

“It’ll certainly make it easier to have Hampshire teammates with me. Danny and Carbs absolutely deserve it too, after the seasons they’ve had. Carbs has seen it all before, so his experience will be invaluable to Danny and I.

“I’m very proud to be a part of things and if more opportunities arise, I’ll grasp them with both hands.”

Adams, Hampshire’s Player of the Year for the last two seasons, was the county’s leading run scorer in all competitions this year.

While Adams has had to wait a decade to graduate to a senior tour from England’s Under-19 side, slow left-armer Briggs has been fast-tracked into the set up after taking 69 wickets in all competitions for Hampshire this year.

Briggs, 19, and Kent off spinner James Tredwell were given the nod ahead of Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid.

England Performance Programme squad: Adams (Hampshire), Bairstow (Yorkshire), Briggs (Hampshire), Carberry (Hampshire), Chambers (Essex), Dernbach (Surrey), Andrew Gale (Yorkshire), Hildreth (Somerset), Kieswetter (Somerset), Lyth (Yorkshire), Plunkett (Durham), Shahzad (Yorkshire), Stokes (Durham), Taylor (Leicestershire), Tredwell (Kent), Woakes (Warwickshire).

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