By Andrew Gidley

Stefan Pichowski says his inclusion in the England Deaf Cricket squad to tour Australia early in the new year came as a surprise.

The 34-year-old batsman and slow left arm bowler, who plays for Hythe and has also had spells with Ashford, had been out of the game for nearly two years with a shoulder injury but was delighted when his call-up was confirmed by the ECB.

The squad announcement followed a busy summer under a new regime led by head coach Bobby Denning and assistant coach Derek Morgan.

Pichowski (pictured) said: "The selectors picked the touring party on performances and tough indoor training weekends at Shrewsbury School during the winter.

"We had several tough matches against MCC, Whitgift School and several top Premier League clubs in Derbyshire and the players were thoroughly tested to help replicate deaf international cricket."

The party leave on January 9 and will have one week to prepare before the Ashes Test in Geelong, which is also the venue for a tri-series tournament, including two one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games involving England, Australia and South Africa.

Pichowski, who lives in Gillingham and works for Medway Council as a support worker for the hard of hearing, is no stranger to Australia, having played club cricket for Sydney Warriors in 2006. He was then chosen for the England squad two years later, but was not selected for the Test.