MATT Parkinson admitted it was a proud moment to make his competitive England debut in New Zealand.

Bolton’s Lancashire leg spinner was selected for the third T20 international in Nelson, taking a wicket in his first over.

The 23-year-old finished with figures of 1-14, bowling just the two overs, as the hosts posted 180-7 batting first.

Eoin Morgan’s men looked on course for victory but collapsed from 139-2 to 166-7 as they went 2-1 down in the series.

For Parkinson, who had appeared in a warm up game in Christchurch on his first England tour, it proved to be a dream debut as he removed Tim Seifert with just his fifth ball, the only frustration being that he did not complete his full complement of four overs.

“We’ve been here two and a half weeks now and it was nice to get run out in the warm up game but that feels like a long time ago in Christchurch. It’s just a proud moment to make my debut,” the former Bolton School pupil said.

“To be honest the moment when I was thrown the ball was probably the least nervous I was throughout the whole day.

“I was more nervous this morning at the hotel. I almost wanted to fast forward from the moment of being in breakfast to getting my first over over and done with.”

Nerves meant that Parkinson did all he could to treat his international bow like any other game, the Heaton spinner having been called up after a fine summer for the Red Rose in both red and white-ball cricket.

“It’s just a game really. I just tried to prepare and focus as I would for any T20 game,” he told BBC’s Test Match Special, having found out at 3pm on the day before the game that he would be playing.

“It helps that I have bowled a bit to some of the Kiwi lads before, the ones that have come and played in the (T20) Blast.

“It was great to get the wicket with my fifth ball.”

A good start meant that many observers were confused as to why Morgan handed his new man only 12 balls to show what he could do.

“Any bowler would like to bowl more,” Parkinson said.

“The wind changed as the game went on and with that short boundary and with James Neesham in and Mitch Santner to come, Morgy just thought that seam was the best option.”

Big-hitting Somerset batsman Tom Banton was also handed his England debut in Nelson as Parkinson’s Lancashire team-mate Saqib Mahmood took 1-49 from his four overs.

Bolton’s rising star will hope to have done enough to keep his place in Friday’s fourth T20 international in Napier and beyond that,  force his way into the side for the two Test matches.

“I guess I’ve got more of a reputation as a white ball bowler and I think that my red ball has gone a bit under the radar but my stats are quite good,” Parkinson said.  

“I am quite lucky that I bowl at Old Trafford and having experienced some of the Division Two grounds this year it can be a thankless task to bowl there.

“I’m obviously keen to play red ball cricket for England as well.

“England have given chances to young spinners that have been performing, the likes of Mason Crane and Dom Bess.

“If young spinners are performing then that second spinner spot is up for grabs.”