JOSH DE CAIRES — son of former England captain Mike Atherton — has received international recognition for the first time.

Middlesex all-rounder De Caires will join a 21-man England Lions squad for a three-week training camp in Abu Dhabi next month.

De Caires, 21, uses his mother’s maiden name and Atherton believes that helped reduce pressure and attention on the young player in the junior ranks.

De Caires started his career as a top-order batsman but gains selection for the Lions mainly because of a string of impressive displays with his off-spin bowling.

He snared a ten-wicket haul against Essex as well as contributing useful runs down the order in the closing weeks of the County Championship.

De Caires is one of seven spin options in the squad.

ECB performance director Mo Bobat said: “The camp will provide an excellent opportunity for the players to develop their red-ball game and allow us to learn more about them as people and players.

“In selecting the group, we’ve carefully considered England’s short and long-term needs in Test cricket, particularly with sub-continent challenges in mind.”

Atherton’s wife’s family runs a newspaper in Guyana and De Caires’ great-grandfather Frank played three Tests for West Indies in the 1930s.

Atherton, now a Sky TV commentator and The Times’ cricket correspondent, has tried to let De Caires develop his game with little parental interference.

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De Caires said: “Dad is very good at keeping his space.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever outgrow the tag of being his son but it’s not something I’m too concerned about.

“I’m immensely proud of my dad but I’m happy just getting on with my game.”