FORMER New Zealand international Hamish Marshall has backed Purton's Craig Miles to become a future England pace bowler.

The 37-year-old is a teammate of the Purton-born bowler at Gloucestershire, where he is playing in his final season before heading home to New Zealand.

Miles, 21, made his county championship debut for Gloucestershire when he was just 16 and has gone on to become a key component of their bowling attack having shaken off an injury that plagued him last summer.

Miles, who was shortlisted for the Professional Cricketer’s Association breakthrough award last year, was selected for the ECB Elite Player Programme for fast bowlers over the winter and Marshall believes it won’t be long before he is knocking on the door for a national call-up.

“He (Miles) is a fantastic cricketer and he is recognised already as that as a youngster,” said Marshall.

“We have got to remember that he is still very young and he is still developing. Although his progress has been very quick because of his ability to take wickets you can get fast-tracked but he is still learning the game.

“There is still a lot to learn for him and he does that quite quickly but there will be ups and downs along the way.

“He is a huge prospect and there is no doubt for me that he will play for England at some stage.

“When (it will happen) I don’t know but he has got the goods to do it and to have him at Gloucester, we are delighted.

“He is a good lad as well and when you are likeable and play a sport then people want you to do well and we certainly want that for him.”

Miles has played in five County Championship Division Two matches for Gloucestershire, who currently lie in third place, taking 27 wickets for an average of 28.74, with best figures of 5-54.

That leaves him joint 15th in the table of first-class wicket takers in the country and Marshall knows there is a lot more to come.

“He is still young and he is still learning,” he added.

“His body is still growing and he is still trying to work out different things and get better with the skills that he has got.

“It is sort of scary to think that there is a lot more for him to get better at and he will be an outstanding bowler.

“I hope one day, when I am back in New Zealand, he will come and play a test match against New Zealand for England.”