TOM Kohler-Cadmore is hoping he can make the most of what he describes as a surprise call-up to the England Lions squad for their four-day clash with Pakistan A in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

The Yorkshire batsman scored two half-centuries for the Lions in their summer one-day tri-series with the A teams of India and the West Indies.

And while he impressed significantly in his subsequent six County Championship appearances for Yorkshire, scoring two centuries in a haul of 414 runs, he admits to not expecting the call from the England selectors.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. "When I got the message, it was a bit of a surprise to be in both squads because I only played six Champo games, even though I played quite nicely in them.

“I’m really happy to be able to get a full trip because the longer you’re out here, the more you can learn and improve.”

Kohler-Cadmore, 24, was part of Yorkshire’s squad for last month’s Abu Dhabi T20 competition.

He returns to the United Arab Emirates, where the Lions play a four-day match, five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals.

The four-day clash starts on Sunday, with the final T20 also in Abu Dhabi on December 8.

Jason Roy will play in the four-day game, while Ollie Pope has been named for the whole tour having been released from the senior Test squad in Sri Lanka.

“It’s going to be a great experience for me,” said Kohler-Cadmore. “It’s really nice to be selected, and I feel it’s a little feather in my cap.

“Playing against the Pakistanis, it will be similar to their home conditions.

“I felt the T20 competition we were involved in with Yorkshire was almost like a mini pre-season for me looking ahead to this trip. Hopefully I can get used to the pitches that bit quicker and adapt.”

The ex-Worcestershire opener hit scores of 67 and 80 in matches against the West Indies A in late June, with the Lions beaten in the tri-series final by India A.

“I got two fifties, and it went ok,” he reflected. “You have to work that bit harder for your runs as you’re playing against the best players from every team, and there’s no weak link.

“It’s a challenge, but I enjoy that. The whole idea of these tours is to see who’s ready for England and to put your name forward.

“That’s what I’m here to do, to impress and hopefully play in international colours at some point.”

Asked whether selection for such tours lead him to think about how far he is away from senior international cricket, he added: “Not really.

“You just have to keep going. Cricket’s a funny game. One week you can be playing for England and the next week you can be dropped. It can snowball downwards as it can upwards.

“It’s just about being level-headed and focusing on what I can do, which is score runs when I go out to bat for whichever side - my club, Yorkshire, or the Lions.

“If they don’t pick you from there, you’ve done everything you can.”