He is an England Test batsman-in-waiting but Michael Carberry has revealed he nearly quit cricket before Hampshire revitalised his career.

Carberry is expected to make his debut for England in Bangladesh in March after being included in a Test squad minus the rested Andrew Strauss for the two-match tour.

But four years ago he was close to giving up his England dream.

“I was pretty close to quitting,” he admits. “Those who are closest to me know the tough time I had at Kent, not through lack of performances but because my face didn’t fit and they messed me about quite a lot for three years.

“I saw other guys getting a chance. I was pretty despondent.

“I came home one day from training and said to my mum: ‘I’ve had enough of this.’ I’d worked really hard, trained well, and was batting as well as ever yet was still being ignored and had just had enough.”

Having joined Kent from Surrey, for whom he played 19 first-class matches from 2001-02, Carberry played 26 first-class matches in his first two seasons at Canterbury.

But he came close to quitting after being restricted to one appearance, against Bangladesh A, in 2005.

It needed the support of a former England fast bowler to stop him giving up the game.

“People who are close to me, especially Alex Tudor who is probably my best mate, basically said ‘stop talking nonsense’ and told me to keep trying.

“I started applying to various counties and Hampshire came in,” continues Carberry, who had scored 2,044 first-class runs at 38.56 when he was given the break he needed by former Hampshire manager Paul Terry in November 2005.

“I clearly wasn’t useless but was at the stage where it was first-team cricket or nothing. I said if I don’t cut it in two years then fair enough.”

In four seasons with Hampshire, Carberry has scored 3,914 first-class runs at 44.5, including 1,067 at 50.8 in 2007 and 1,251 at 69.5 last year.

At Trent Bridge last August he was 86 not out and on course for a fifth hundred in six LV County Championship matches when his prolific season was ended by a fractured finger.

“To be honest I did think it had probably ditched my chances,” he says. “Even to get into the Lions squad, I needed a 1,500-run season but I suppose enough word got around.”

Four months later, Carberry received a Test call-up while enjoying Christmas at home, having returned from South Africa with the England Performance Programme.

He was made to wait for his debut when Paul Collingwood recovered from his dislocated finger in time for the third Test in Cape Town, but stayed with the squad for the remainder of the series.

The 29-year-old is considered ready for the step up after scoring 417 first-class runs at 46.3 for the England Lions since his move to the Rose Bowl.

He also enjoyed his experience as 12th man during the last two Tests in South Africa.

“Seeing how the guys prepare, the stuff you don’t see on TV, netting with England bowlers and things like that, it’s been fantastic,” he said.

“It did come as a bit of surprise, but I’ve got good runs in the past. It’s what I’ve been working towards for 12 years and I make no apologies for getting picked.

“I’ve worked hard enough for it and will just enjoy the experience. At least I now know my hopes and ambitions are closer to becoming a reality.

“That’s the thing that has hit me more than anything.

"You aren’t just talked about as a potential England player any more – you get the white lions on your helmet instead of the red ones."