Cumbrian Liam Livingstone’s talent and toughness earned him a call-up for England’s two-Test series against New Zealand.

The 24-year-old Lancashire captain has been on the radar of the national selectors for some time – with former England coach Andy Flower, now in charge of the Lions, also a fan.

Livingstone’s displays for Lancashire over the past two seasons, as well as his efforts for the Lions when touring Sri Lanka and against South Africa A at home, caught the eye of the selectors.

And he has become the first Cumbrian-born player to be called-up for a Test series since Paul Nixon was in the squad – but did not play – for the tour of Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2000/01.

National selector James Whitaker hailed Livingstone’s impact over the past two years, and said of his selection: “Liam has been a player that we have been impressed with for quite some time, having performed well in the county system with Lancashire and over the past couple of years with the England Lions.

“He is a very talented and tough cricketer who has the ideal qualities and character to be successful in the Test arena.

"During the recent Lions tour of Australia, he was a stand-out performer and showed a lot of maturity in his attitude and put in some strong performances.”

Ben Stokes has also been named in the squad but playing depends on the outcome of an investigation following an alleged assault in Bristol in September.

The case has been sent to the CPS and Stokes is awaiting news on whether he will be charged over the affair.

Should Livingstone play in New Zealand, Livingstone would become the first Cumbrian player to represent his country in Test cricket since Norman Gifford gained the last of his 15 caps, also against New Zealand, in June 1973.

Stokes spent some of his childhood in west Cumbria, but was born and raised in New Zealand until he was 12.

It would be a great feat for Livingstone, and his head coach at Lancashire, Glen Chapple – who picked him as captain for the Red Rose next season – told www.lccc.co.uk: “It is fantastic news that Liam has been named in the England Test squad for the series against New Zealand.

“He is a highly-talented batsman and has shown that over the last two years while playing First-Class cricket.

To average over 50 in the Specsavers County Championship batting at three shows the technique and temperament he has.”

Test squad: Joe Root (Yorkshire), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Craig Overton (Somerset), Ben Stokes (Durham), Mark Stoneman (Surrey), James Vince (Hampshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).