Samit Patel, 23, was a member of the Worksop College cricket team from 1999 to 2003, and the Notts bowler was delighted to be called up for international duty.

He said: "I've made good progress at Notts and it's been a life-long ambition to take that forward for England."

"It hasn't sunk in yet but it's all I've ever wanted."

"I've been through the England ranks with the Under 15s, 17s and 19s and the end goal has always been to play for the senior side."

Patel was happy to endorse the new England skipper after experiencing Pietersen's captaincy in a Second XI Trophy game between Notts and Lancashire in 2002.

"KP hit a century and took a wicket and I got 23 not out," said Patel. "I can't remember too much about his style of captaincy but he's got character and he brings character out of those around him as well."

"He has the respect of his teammates and the opposition players and I think that he'll take to the role very quickly."

Patel's former headmaster at Worksop College, Roy Collard, gave the Guardian an account of Patel's successful four-year spell at the college.

Mr Collard said: "Samit was a member of the Worksop College first team that enjoyed considerable success between 1999 and 2003."

"Natural ability combined with immense talent and first-class coaching at Worksop enabled Samit to break into the Notts second team and to play for England in the U15 World Cup before moving to the Under 17s."

"He also won the inaugural Test Match Special Young Cricketer of the Year Award in 2000, and played his first U19 World Cup in 2002."

"Despite outside success he always played as part of the Worksop College team and helped to bring out the best in other players."

"On leaving the college Samit signed a full-time contract with Notts and continued his progress with the England age-group sides."

"We're absolutely delighted for him," he added.

Mick Newell, Patel's coach at Notts, is confident that the left-arm bowler will leave his mark on South Africa during the NatWest series.

Mr Newell said: "Samit has done very well in all forms of the game and his performances for Notts have warranted this call-up."

"It's particularly pleasing that a local player has come through the Notts academy and made it into the national squad. A lot of people have coached him and helped him but he's done a lot for himself as well. He's a very committed player and this is the opportunity that he's been waiting for."

Patel made his debut for Notts at the tender age of 16 and since then has featured consistently in the team.

He got a small taste of the England set-up in 2006 when he was brought on as a substitute fielder during the third test match against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge, his home ground.

The bowler became the only man in English Twenty20 history to claim a double-wicket maiden, when Notts played Derbyshire in 2006.