Somerset wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter has been called into the England Performance Programme squad.

Kieswetter, 21, was born in South Africa and represented the Proteas at Under-19 level but moved to Somerset in 2006 and has long been talked about as a potential England player.

His qualification period is up in February and the England management have apparently endorsed his credentials as a future international by adding him to the training squad that will work together for eight weeks in Loughborough and South Africa during November and December.

Kieswetter has been named as a 'category B' squad member, designed for players with first-class experience who could graduate to the senior side with one to three years' development.

If he does link up with Andy Flower's side in the future, he would join the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and captain Andrew Strauss in playing for England despite being born in South Africa.