A SENIOR England call-up could be on the horizon for Matthew Parkinson, according to his Lancashire team-mate and ex-South Africa international Dane Vilas.

Parkinson has enjoyed a productive summer for the Red Rose and is highly thought of at England Lions level, opening up the prospect of a call-up for the early winter tour of Sri Lanka.

Parkinson had taken 37 wickets in 18 county appearances across all formats.

In October and November, England travel to Sri Lanka to play five one-day internationals, one T20 and three Test matches in notoriously spin-friendly conditions.

Coach Trevor Bayliss and captains Joe Root and Eoin Morgan will need a variety of spin options.

The likes of off-spinners Dom Bess and Moeen Ali will be in contention, as will left-arm spinner Jack Leach and leg-spinner Adil Rashid. However, as things stand, the latter is only playing white ball cricket.

And a continuation of that would strengthen 21-year-old Boltonian Parkinson’s case.

Wicketkeeper Vilas, 33, played six Tests for South Africa in 2015 and 2016 and has had a bird’s-eye view of Parkinson’s development from behind the stumps with Lancashire recently.

“The way he’s bowling and performing, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he got picked,” he said.

“Parky’s a special talent. A wrist spinner who can land more often than not is vital in any format, T20 all the way up to a Test Match. It’s huge.

“He’s a guy who has future aspirations to not only do well for Lancashire but for England. He’s been really, really impressive, and I think he could be ready for that step up.

“He knows he has some areas to work on. He wants to be more consistent. Saying that, I don't think he’d let anybody down if he got the nod.

“I think there will be a lot of spinners named for that tour.

“England are quite lucky at the minute that they have a few spinners who are there and thereabouts.

“It would be nice for him to get that international touring experience with the guys to see what it’s all about.

“The pressures and the players you’re up against, it’s a completely different animal. The scrutiny is just huge. He could do with seeing what it’s about so he can learn from it in order to be at that top level for a long time.

“Everyone wants to get to the highest level, but the hardest part is staying there and doing well consistently.

Vilas added: “The thing I like most about Parky is his attitude. He wants to bowl in tough situations, when their best players are batting, when we need a wicket or at the death.

“It doesn’t matter who or when he’s playing, he backs himself and is up for that fight.

“And he’s still got lots of time ahead of him. A bit like batsmen, spinners only really reach their best form in their mid to late twenties.”