Above: Chris Woakes celebrating the wicket of former BLACKCAPS batsman Jamie How in Napier on 7 December.

Hell Wellington Firebirds all-rounder Chris Woakes has been called in to the England ODI squad for its tour of India starting in early January 2013.

Woakes arrived in late November as one of Wellington’s overseas players for the HRV Cup campaign, will play the next two HRV Cup matches, in Dunedin on Sunday 23 December, and at the Hawkins Basin Reserve on 26 December, before leaving New Zealand to return to London and join the rest of the England squad immediately after New Year.

Cricket Wellington Chief Executive Peter Clinton said that while it was disappointing to lose such a quality player as Woakes, the players and organisation were very pleased for him and wished him every success in India.

“It’s great news for Chris of course, and reinforces just what a talented cricketer he is. Our focus has quickly shifted to our playing roster, and whether we need to recruit to fill his vacancy, and if so who’s available at short notice.  It’s still great to have Chris for the next two matches, along with Tamim Iqbal, so we have a short window to work the phones and emails.  We hope to have the squad settled for the remainder of the HRV Cup campaign ahead of the Boxing Day match”.

Clinton also encouraged cricket fans to head along to the Hawkins Basin Reserve on Boxing Day for the match against the CD Stags. “This is Wellington fans’ opportunity to see a future international star cricketer in Chris Woakes, and along with his Hell Firebirds’ teammates they want to gift-wrap a win for Firebirds supporters”.

Tamim Iqbal to make Hell Wellington Firebirds debut on Sunday

Tamim Iqbal will line up for the Hell Firebirds for the remainder of their HRV Cup Twenty20 campaign, starting with their fourth round match against the Otago Volts in Dunedin on Sunday. Tamin plays his first home game for the Firebirds on Boxing Day at the Basin Reserve against the Central Stags.

Tamim was the 2010 Wisden Cricketer magazine's test player of the year. Left-handed batsman Tamim has already packed 160 international cricket matches into his career for Bangladesh, including 113 ODIs and 24 Tests.