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Sport

Kent Cricket spinner Adam Riley trains with England team and gets advice over the phone from Australian Test legend Shane Warne

By: Alex Hoad

Published: 00:00, 23 July 2014

Updated: 18:15, 23 July 2014

Adam Riley says receiving guidance from Shane Warne and training with the England team have given him “the itch” for international honours.

After a stunning start to the LV= County Championship season, the 22-year-old joined the England squad ahead of the Second Test against India at Lord’s, spending two days working in the nets with the country’s senior talent.

He said: “I had a couple of days training and bowling at the England guys. It was a good experience, enjoyable. It’s been in the pipeline for four or five weeks.

“I got involved in a lot of stuff, bowling, fielding and team meetings, which was more than I thought. I thought I’d go up as a bit of a net bowler but they introduced me to all the guys in the dressing room and gave me a peg on the end. It was a good week.”

Kent Cricket's Adam Riley Picture: Barry Goodwin

He added: “They were just keen to have a look at me and what with it being London way, I am reasonably local.

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“They said at the beginning they were kind of rewarding me for the stuff I have done this year. They wanted me to get down there, bowl at the guys and meet some guys.Read into it what you want but my prerogative is to play for Kent and take some wickets.”

Riley also revealed Rob Key had arranged the conversation with Warne on the phone in the Kent dressing room, adding: “Keysey managed to set it up and I managed to speak to him for maybe half an hour about spin bowling.

“He said a bit at the start and asked a few questions. I tried to take everything on board and absorb everything he said. He’s one guy who when you get talking about cricket, he can talk forever and ever, which is fantastic.

“Hopefully, I will be able to catch up with him again at some stage. There was a plan to try and meet up with him, it didn’t work out with his commentary and stuff but it was fantastic to talk to him.

“The way I’m going, these opportunities will come for me and I need to make the most of them.
“You don’t get to speak to Shane Warne, or train with England, every day. It’s a case of enjoying the moments and not resting on your laurels and carrying the hard work on and seeing where it gets me.

“It’s more experience, bowling at the top guys in England and being involved in that environment.

“I’ve got the itch for it now and would love to get back into it but I’ve got hard work to put in to carry on what I’m doing.”

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