CHRIS Schofield had reason to celebrate in tonight's CGU National League game against Hampshire Hawks under the Old Trafford floodlights.

The 20-year-old Littleborough leg-spinner was selected for a place in the England A squad to tour Bangladesh and New Zealand this winter, named by Lord's today.

Schofield pressed his claims with a timely career best performance in Lancashire's Championship victory over Durham last week.

And he was also included in the Lightning squad for the last day-night match of the season.

Schofield has been a regular in Lancashire's one-day team this season because of his useful batting and brilliant fielding, as well as his improving leg-spin bowling.

And the England selectors were under pressure to give youth a fling in the A team after the disastrous defeat by New Zealand.

Durham opener Michael Gough, another member of the England under-19 team currently playing Australia for the "mini-Ashes," was also picked.

Schofield graduated from the under-19 team last year and spent last winter in Australia where he played club cricket in Melbourne, worked with Shane Warne's "spin doctor" Terry Jenner and even bowled at the senior England team in the nets. Mark Alleyne was chosen to lead the squad.

England A squad to tour Bangladesh and New Zealand this winter: M Alleyne (Gloucestershire, capt), R Turner (Somerset, wkt), M Davies (Northamptonshire), P Franks (Nottinghamshire), M Gough (Durham), S Harmison (Durham), A Habib (Leicestershire), R Irani (Essex), D Sales (Northamptonshire), C Schofield (Lancashire), C Silverwood (Yorkshire), A Sheriyar (Worcestershire), V Solanki (Worcestershire), M Trescothick (Somerset), I Ward (Surrey).

Meanwhile Lightning needed to beat Hampshire tonight to go back to the top of the National League after Worcestershire Royals beat Essex by three runs to claim top spot themselves yesterday.

Mike Watkinson also returned to the Lancashire squad.

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