By Glenn Pearson

Kent seamer Matt Coles believes his form toward the end of the season was the catalyst for his "surprise" inclusion in the potential England Performance Programme.

The 21-year-old, pictured, was named in a 13-man squad that will train at Loughborough with the full EPP squad, before going to India at the start of 2012 with a group of fast bowlers under the tutelage of legendary Australia quick bowler, Dennis Lillee.

Coles admitted he was shocked to have been included on the programme after an injury-hit season for Kent. The Maidstone-born paceman suffered a knee injury at the start of the summer which kept him out of action at the start of the season, while a metatarsal strain picked up at the start of the Friends Life t20 campaign ruled him out for more than two months.

While injuries limited Coles to just 10 first-class appearances, his return to the side in August coincided with an upturn in fortunes as Kent ended the season on a more positive note – something not lost on the England selectors.

He said: "It’s brilliant news to get selected to be on the programme. I was surprised it came along and to be given the opportunity but hopefully I can make the most of it.

"When I was fit I didn’t do too badly and I probably peaked about the time of selection and was probably the right time to have put my name forward."

Coles is looking forward to making the most of Lillee’s experience at his fast bowling academy in Chennai, India and goes there looking to impress with the England Lions set to tour Sri Lanka and Bangladesh next year.