Matthew Carter learned much of his trade playing for Lincolnshire and his minor counties coach has tipped the young off-spinner to be a future England international.

Mark Fell, who played 15 first class matches for Nottinghamshire in the early 80s, believes his former county have unearthed a gem in the teenage twirler, who began his first class career with match figures of 10-195 against Somerset in June.

"Matthew is one of the most natural spin bowlers I've ever seen," said Fell.

"In a few years' time, if he has a bit of luck, he'll play for England, there's no doubt about that.

"I'd have no problem chucking him into the England team very soon. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid are great batters, but you can't afford to have your spinners going at five or six runs an over, as they do sometimes.

"Graeme Swann used to go at less than two an over. You need to have a spinner who can tie an end up.

"It's great they can bat – and Moeen can bat at the top of the order to be fair – but I would say Matthew is as good a bowler as him now, if not better.

"In his favour is the fact there are very few spinners in this country. There are probably two or three decent spinners in the whole country, so he's got a hell of a chance.”

Fell sites Carter’s height - and intelligence for the sport - as the critical assets that he believes will see the 19-year-old, who recently signed a two-year contract with Nottinghamshire, succeed in his professional career.

Having been selected on the ECB’s Performance Programme - and bowled at England in the nets ahead of the Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge - Carter has already garnered experience bowling at international players. Fell is now encouraging the youngster to work on his batting.

"Being six foot six and being able to get loop and bounce is unreal," he added. "With little lads, they tend to throw it up above the eye line.

"Matt does that too and he can still get it down again. It bounces and it turns. People forget that he turns the ball quite a lot as well.

"He also works things out very quickly. He's got a cricket brain.

"The only thing he's got to work on now is his batting. These days, you can't have traditional number 10 and 11 batsmen, they've got to be able to bat."

 

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