Paul Grayson is preparing himself for an England debut on Tuesday. The Essex spinner, called out as back up for the injured Ashley Giles, looks increasingly likely to play against South Africa.

With Giles again sitting out practise, the chances of him making sufficient recovery to play appear slim. Grayson, who left his job as a brewery salesman to fly to Kenya, is in pole position for a place then, unless England plump for the off spin of Hick to support their seamers.

"All I know at the moment is that I'm on reserve. If Ashley feels a lot better tomorrow he will play," Grayson said. "But I have been told to prepare myself to play on Tuesday, so that's what I'll do."

His call up was a surprise, even to Grayson, and he concedes that his will be a new name to some.

"I would say that apart form cricket followers, not many people have heard from me. One or two people have compared it to the Peter Taylor situation when he was picked for Australia. He went on to play a lot of games, so if I do half as well as him I'll be very pleased."

"When the chance comes along I will grab it. It does not bother me, I'll just get on with my own game."

Although Grayson is used to opening the batting at county level, he has been made aware that his primary role in Kenya is as a bowler.

"My forte is batting," Grayson candidly admits, "but I'm told that if I do play I will probably be down to come in about nine."

Grayson has been called up very much as a one-day specialist. Although he only took 10 first class wickets last season, he had a fine record in the National League. He is confident he can fulfil a useful role for England.

"I have bowled at the death in one-day cricket quite a lot, so I know what I should be doing. I 'm not a big spinner of the ball but in one-day cricket you don't need to be."

"You can afford to bowl the ball a bit slower back home because the grounds are a bit bigger. Here you have to bowl very full and very straight, so that will be my plan."

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