Batty wants England return

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Batty, who has played seven Tests and 10 one-day internationals, was drafted in because of concerns over Samit Patel's fitness and Graeme Swann undergoing an elbow operation.

And the 31-year-old is determined to challenge again for a spot in this Ashes summer, saying: "The senior call-up was a bonus. It came as a nice shot in the arm that they wanted me back on the scene around the Lions team and also wanted experienced and proven players around there for back-up with a big a summer coming up."

He added: "It is nice the door is ajar and it is the same for a few of the boys now. There is a real sort of hunger to get possibly back on the international scene for a more extended period.

"The England call did give me a big lift. The feedback had always been pretty good and always been along the lines of you've just got to bide your time and make sure your name is up there with the best.

"It's not a closed shop with England. Not at all. I think Andy Flower wants the players who are playing the very best cricket to be playing for England.

"But first and foremost, there have to be good results with Worcestershire. Most importantly, we need to be a winning team - and it seems to look that people get selected for England if they are with winning teams."

Batty also feels he can do his prospects no harm if he can score plenty of runs in the lower order.

"The fact scoring runs can help my international aims is in the back of my mind. First and foremost I want to be taking a lot of wickets but I've always said I deem myself as an all-rounder.

"Sometimes it is down to getting an opportunity. Batting at number seven, you don't always get in, particularly with the way some of the boys played (at Worcestershire) last year. But I've worked on a couple of things this winter, very small technical things and, fingers crossed, it is going to be a big season with bat and ball."