Moore relishing New Zealand tour

Stephen Moore will look to progress on his first-ever visit to New Zealand

Worcestershire opener Stephen Moore is relishing the chance to tour New Zealand with the England Lions.

And Moore admits that having his New Road team-mates Gareth Batty and Steven Davies on the trip is a bonus.

"It's great for us to be going out there with guys who we have played with and have got to know quite well," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"It's a nice comfort for the players as well as for the supporters at Worcestershire."

Moore, who was the leading England-qualified run-scorer in domestic cricket last season, is delighted with his call-up to the Lions squad.

Moore, now 28, might have been a relatively late entrant into the professional game, making his debut at 22. But the Johannesburg-born batsman, who qualifies because of his English parents, has never given up on hopes of international recognition. And he has worked hard to prepare for the trip to New Zealand.

"We've been training together for about three weeks up at Loughborough," he said.

We've got a chance to try and hone our skills and stake a claim for a place in the full England side

Stephen Moore

"We have been up there three or four days per week going through some physical training as well as skills to make sure we are prepared as we can be.

"Obviously it has been useful as we are getting to know each other better as a team as well."

Moore has already benefited from working with experienced members of the squad, such as Kent captain Rob Key, and hopes to get a great deal out of the tour.

"It's going to be my first experience of travelling with England and playing a proper series out there," he said.

"We will have a couple of warm-up games to try and acclimatise and I am sure there will be some very talented young New Zealand guys who will be trying to impress.

"Then it's into the Tests, one-dayers and Twenty20 where we've got a chance to try and hone our skills and stake a claim for a place in the full England side."