SAJID Mahmood says he is ready to play for England again.

The Lancashire bowler has received a double boost over the past 48 hours, first being named in the provisional 30-man line-up for the World Twenty20.

And then he was handed a spot in the 25-strong England performance squad for this summer's Tests and one-day internationals along with Red Rose team-mates Andrew Flintoff and Jimmy Anderson.

After spending the last two months in New Zealand playing for the England Lions, the 27-year-old, who has not played for the national side since the 2007 World Cup is right back in the selectors' thinking.

He will have the chance to impress them again in the next few days as he plays alongside the likes of Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell for the MCC in the traditional season curtain-raiser against champions Durham at Lord's.

Mahmood played the first of his eight Tests in 2006, and saw the harder side of life at the highest level while being part of the England side which lost 5-0 to the Aussie in the Ashes Down Under. Now, he admits it probably came a bit too early for him.

"When I first went in for England, I was a little bit young, I had not really played too much cricket and it was just a case of go and bowl. There was nothing else to it," he said.

"I realised why I was left out, because of my consistency. It was an accuracy thing. My pace has never really been a problem, but I have just been working on accuracy and getting the ball in pretty good areas.

"I have gone back and worked really hard at that.

"I think I am ready to play for England again. I have matured a lot as a cricketer.

"My pace is there, consistency is getting better all the time, I am a lot more streetwise both mentally and physically, I am a lot stronger.

"My main ambition is to get back into that England shirt as quickly as possible and I don't think I am too far away.

"I have had time out from my international career to reflect on what I want to improve on to be able to get back into that side.

"All I need to do now is have a really good start with Lancs. I need to take a lot of wickets. I think everyone will see a slightly different me, someone who can hit an area consistently."

Last year for Lancashire Mahmood was handed more responsibility and with Dominic Cork leaving at the end of last season, he and captain Glen Chapple will be the main strikeforce.

And that added responsibility is something Saj relishes.

"It has helped me, definitely," he revealed. "I had a little bit of it last year when there were a few injuries to Chappie and Corky. I was the senior bowler.

"To have that responsibility gives you a little bit more pressure. You have to perform.

"I could have a chat to the younger lads about how to go about things and I think that was a big thing for me."

Mahmood's involvement in the MCC game means he will miss today's friendly against Yorkshire at Old Trafford (11.30am).

Lancashire have made one change from the side which lost to their Roses rivals on Tuesday, with Gareth Cross coming in for Karl Brown. Entry to the game is free.

Lancashire: Loye, Hogg, Horton, Chilton, Croft, Sutton (cpt/wkt), Cross, Mullaney, Smith, Parry, Newby.