Snape impressed the selectors with his well-flighted bowling, useful runs and effervescent approach in the field after being called into the one-day squad for last year's tour to Zimbabwe. And they have kept faith with him, even though he recently lost his place in the Gloucestershire team.

Snape cannot afford to under-perform against India and Sri Lanka, however, if he wants to hang onto his place for next year's World Cup in South Africa.

Although his batting was not required he had already done enough to receive the remarkable accolade of man-of-the-match on his England debut for his figures of 2 for 39 in the one-dayer against Zimbabwe.