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Page last updated at 12:27 GMT, Friday, 15 May 2009 13:27 UK

Rose backs Hildreth for England

James Hildreth
Hildreth made his highest-ever one-day and first-class scores this season

Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose believes batsman James Hildreth is on the verge of an England call-up.

"He's playing wonderfully well at the moment and he's not far off England A selection or one-day cricket I think," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"A guy with that ability at some stage is going to get some action."

The 24-year-old scored an unbeaten 303 in the championship opener against Warwickshire and followed that with a one-day century against Scotland.

"It's given him the building blocks to keep nudging the selectors. If he keeps going like this and keeps scoring runs and he must be in the set-up," added Rose, who played nine Tests from 1977-1981.

Hlidreth, who has represented England at every youth level, burst onto the county scene in 2004 when he scored 101 against a Durham attack including Shoaib Akhtar, then the world's fastest bowler - and also made 210 for England's under-19 side against Bangladesh.

Last winter, he was a member of the England Lions squad which took part in the Duleep Trophy to India, playing alongside members of the England senior team such as Graham Onions and Monty Panesar.



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see also
Hildreth best puts Scots to sword
11 May 09 |  Counties
Hildreth hits triple ton in draw
18 Apr 09 |  Counties
Hildreth celebrates Lions call-up
05 Jan 08 |  Somerset
Hildreth signs new Somerset deal
22 Apr 08 |  Somerset


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