DARYL Mitchell believes Worcestershire paceman Josh Tongue has all the attributes needed to eventually play for England.

Veteran Mitchell was impressed with Tongue’s performances in his first full season of first-team cricket.

The academy product ended with 47 wickets in County Championship Division Two and played all 14 games before being part of the England Lions training camp in Australia.

Now he has to make the step up into Division One after helping the County to promotion but Mitchell says his qualities make him “a lethal cocktail”.

Mitchell, who was Worcestershire’s players’ player of the year with seven Championship centuries in 2017, said: “Tonguey hit the ground running in Division Two.

"The big test is for him to step up to Division One but hopefully he has benefitted from his Lions experience.

“I’m sure he will be a real asset for us in Division One with his pace, bounce and swing.

“Has he the potential to play for England? I think so. You look at bowlers around the country and there are not too many who can do what he does.

“You need a bit of pace to play at the next level and he has certainly got that. I think he will get stronger and quicker.

“His height is a natural attribute which enables him to get bounce which again is a key asset going up the levels and he swings the ball nicely.

“That pace, bounce and movement is a lethal cocktail really and he has got the attributes.

“But he has got to keep working hard. There is a long way to go before that.

“He just needs to get out there for us and churn out loads of wickets and bowl really well throughout the season.”