IAN Austin has bowled himself into contention for an England debut in the Texaco Trophy after his man of the match performance in Lancashire's Benson and Hedges Cup triumph on Saturday.

Austin confirmed his position as Lancashire's most effective one-day bowler with a deadly new ball spell of 7-2-7-2, and returned to polish off the tail and finish with 4-21.

"I'd love to play for England and I think I could do a job," said the 30-year-old all-rounder, who also hit a handy 14 in Lancashire's innings including an amazing four off Curtly Ambrose.

"But it's not something I'm going to lose any sleep over. It's not the end of the world if I don't get picked."

Austin was closer to selection than ever for the one-day series against India in May and will be considered again for the matches against Wasim Akram's Pakistan later in the summer - the first at Old Trafford on August 29.

Austin celebrated the win with the Lancashire team on Saturday night before heading back home to Haslingden with his family yesterday.

But there is no chance of the level-headed Austin getting carried away. "We've got Warwickshire in the Sunday League tomorrow and what happened at Lord's counts for nothing" he added.

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