Joe Denly admits he is "delighted and proud" about his England one-day call-up and determined to make an impact on the international stage.

The 23-year-old Kent opening batsmen said: "It’s the biggest thing to happen in my short career so far and something I have dreamed about since I was a youngster.

"Whether it’s Test or one-days, representing your country is a massive honour and a great occasion.

"I’m desperate to play and hope I get a chance against Ireland. I’m excited about being selected in the squad, want to be positive and confident and perform well."

He heard the news hours after Kent’s Twenty20 Cup semi-final defeat against Somerset at Edgbaston when he fell to a third ball duck, when chairman of selectors Geoff Miller rang him the following morning,

Denly who joined the squad in Manchester on Tuesday said: "I was delighted to get the call but it was a bit of a shock. Geoff told me I was in all the squads and it certainly softened the blow and took the pain out of the disappointments of the day before."

He is the only uncapped player in the squads named for the one-day friendly against Ireland in Belfast today (Thursday), two Twenty20 and seven one-day internationals against Australia, starting at Old Trafford on Sunday, and the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa next month.

Denly revealed a few days off last week was perfect timing ahead of a busy schedule and allowed him to rest a slight knee niggle.

He said: "I had a scan on it which showed up nothing but I have had treatment and hopefully it should be fine. I had a couple of nets but it was the chance to refresh the body."

He faced the Aussies earlier this summer, playing for the England Lions at Worcester last month making 66, sharing an opening stand of 172 with Worcestershire’s Stephen Moore.

"It did go well and it was an opportunity and a great experience to play against the best side in the world and a real test of your capabilities," he added.

"The Aussies will be up for the one-dayers and desperate to win all of them, so every game will have something on it.

"Our guys in the Test squad will still be on a high after regaining The Ashes at The Oval and will take great confidence from that."

Denly’s selection means he has played his last game for Kent this season, missing the remaining five County Championship Division 2 matches and four NatWest Pro40 games, with the county in with a real chance of winning both.

He said: "We are in a good position and there is a real upbeat feeling in the dressing room.

"We have played some good cricket but there are some quality players to come in, who deserve their chance like Sam Northeast.

"I have felt pretty good about my four day-form with three hundreds on the bounce but always looking to improve in one-day cricket, adding new things to my game."