Sightings of meteors over Trinidad were on the increase as Michael Powell arrived in Port of Spain to join the England A squad.

The rise of Northamptonshire spinner Jason Brown has grabbed the headlines in recent weeks after he was selected to join the full England squad in Sri Lanka later this month, but now it is the turn of the Warwickshire player to steal some thunder.

Powell enjoyed a major boost to his career in September when in a surprise move, he was appointed county captain in place of Neil Smith. To cap that, while playing league cricket in South Africa, he was diverted to the Caribbean to play for England A after David Sales returned home with a torn knee ligament.

Both developments came as a shock to the 25 year-old opening batsman, who at the start of last season set himself the modest target of cementing his place in the Warwickshire side.

In scoring 1,046 first class runs in 2000, he achieved his objective and when it became clear that Smith was no longer the preferred choice as captain, his name was bandied about as an outside bet to take the helm, Nick Knight and Ashley Giles being nominated as favourites.

Powell's name also featured as a contender for the England A tour, but on the same day that he heard he was Warwickshire's new captain, he also learned he was not included in the touring party.

"That was disappointing because some saw me as a probable for the tour. It was the first time I had been talked about but I had already planned my winter in Cape Town with Bob Woolmer, so it would have been a bonus to be part of an A tour.

"I was having a net on the first day back after New Year when Bob arrived, which was unusual. He called me out and my initial thought was what had I done. He said there had been slight alteration to my plans and told me what had happened.

"I was shocked initially because I was under the impression that England A would have had reserves, so I hadn't contemplated the fact that if someone got injured I might be called up."

Powell has opened for the batting for Warwickshire since he represented the County Under-13 side, but the early promise showed in Grenada by England A pairing John Crawley and Ian Ward is likely to force him down the order.

"I have batted lower and made runs, so it is not a problem. We are playing four-day cricket which means I can come in and still have five sessions to bat. This is a strong squad, but I am happy to play an anchor role wherever I bat."

As well as being given the opportunity to push for a full England place, there is another bonus for Powell. A former England Under-18 captain, he is now well placed to pick up some handy hints from England A skipper Mark Alleyne and his deputy John Crawley, the Lancashire captain, ahead of his onerous first season leading his county, a job he says he has always wanted.

"I was tipped as a future Warwickshire captain but it came early and I am delighted. It is a great opportunity and something I have always wanted to do.

"I feel I can learn a lot from Mark and John. They are both experienced in the captaincy stakes and being with them is great preparation for the English season, whatever happens in my own game."

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd