Following his first senior England selection, Matt Parkinson spoke to Harry Josephs on the latest episode of the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast.

Listen to the full interview with Matt Parkinson on the latest episode of the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, available on Spotify and the Podcast App.

Did you expect to get the call-up?

I had a hope I would be called up to the white-ball squad, I thought the performances I had put in the Blast and hearing about the youthfulness of the squad they were taking, leaving out the ‘big dogs’ I had a hope I’d be in the T20 squad but to be selected also for the red-ball squad is something I wasn’t expecting and it is a huge honour.

I do pride myself on my red-ball bowling and I don’t pigeon hole myself as a white-ball operator. I think my numbers are quite good and hopefully they will see something they like moving forward.

Would you go as far as saying your white-ball cricket is ahead of your red-ball cricket at the moment?

You would probably say my all-round game in white-ball cricket is a bit more complete as I am more experienced in it. I’m very lucky to bowl at Old Trafford which is conducive to spin.

Not like your brother then?

I didn’t actually mind Grace Road yesterday! Although I can see it being a challenge week in week out having to bowl spin there. But that will be challenge in New Zealand it isn’t known for being a spinners paradise. I do see my game in decent order in red-ball cricket and I am using it as a chance to improve my skills in the red-ball game.

Do you know many of the lads in the squads?

I know the Lancs lads Saqib [Mahmood] and Jos [Buttler.] I don’t know many of the others. In the four years I have played county cricket I know faces but I haven’t played much Lions cricket really. So yeah, it will be some fresh faces and it will be great to meet them and get to know them.

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And what about the other part of your winter, do you have any other plans?

Tough question! It’s all a bit up in the air at the minute. We will see what will happen in New Zealand, I am trying to get picked up in a couple of T20 tournaments but it all depends on selection.

I have to ask you, how was it getting Callum out?

I don’t enjoy playing against him at all, let alone bowling at him. He actually played me really well, as well as any of the other batsmen did. Once he got to 20 I definitely relaxed a bit, it’s a tough situation because I want Lancs to do well but I also want Callum to do well. The dream situation is Callum gets a red inker and I get all the other wickets.

Being a twin the situation is different, I don’t think that there is that competitive edge against each other. We’re just desperate for the other one to do well. I’m so proud of him and hopefully he’s proud of me but it wasn’t that nice a moment to get him out.

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