LIAM Livingstone has earned his first England call-up for the Twenty20 series against South Africa.

Just over a year on from his First-Class debut, the Barrovian batting ace has been included in the squad for the three-match series, starting on June 21.

England have rested several players for the encounters with South Africa, with the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Joe Root not included.

That has given Livingstone the chance to make to step up, after several impressive outings for England Lions, and having missed out when hotly-tipped to be included in the one-day squad against Ireland last month.

The South Cumbrian has been in fine form for Lancashire this season – hitting a first-class career-best 168 in their victory over Somerset at Old Trafford in the County Championship – and for the Lions.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Get ready for some of this, <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket">@englandcricket</a> fans!<a href="https://twitter.com/liaml4893">@liaml4893</a> strikes a ball pretty cleanly! <br><br>➡️ <a href="https://t.co/tMLOcLMZ3m">https://t.co/tMLOcLMZ3m</a> … <a href="https://t.co/XAx80VJsAM">pic.twitter.com/XAx80VJsAM</a></p>— Lancashire CCC 🌹 (@LancsCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LancsCCC/status/874222993546805248">June 12, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He hit his first List-A century for the Lions against South Africa A at the start of the month, scoring 129 from 83 balls, his third ton in Lions colours.

England chairman of selectors James Whitaker said: “The IT20 series against South Africa presents us with an opportunity to incorporate several players who have come through the talent pathway into the senior group. The squad has an exciting blend of youth and experience and we are looking forward to a competitive series against strong opposition.

“With five uncapped players selected, there is undoubted talent coming through the system and we are excited to see some of these players showcase their skills at the highest level.

“Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tom Curran and Craig Overton have impressed for the England Lions over the past 12 months and have transferred their skills across all formats, in particular with their respective counties.”

Livingstone – the first Cumbrian to earn an England call since Paul Nixon played for the One-Day and Twenty20 sides in 2007 – averaged 50.95 in the County Championship last season, scoring two centuries and six 50s, and this year he has 312 runs this season, at an average of 52. His latest effort was a golden duck against Middlesex in the County Championship game at Southport on Friday.

The Barrow Cricket Club product has been watched carefully by the England selectors, particularly during an impressive winter with the Lions in Sri Lanka.

He scored back-to-back hundreds in the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A – only the second man to do so for England at that level, after Kevin Pietersen – and hit a top-scoring 94 in the limited-overs games.

The 23-year-old also took seven wickets with the ball across three one-day games, with his ability to switch between off-spin and leg-spin another factor in his favour when it came to his call-up by England.

Former national coach Andy Flower and Livingstone's ex-Lancashire coach Ashley Giles spoke earlier in the season about the young player's ability to make the step up with England.

England play South Africa at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton on Wednesday, June 21, with further matches at Taunton on Friday, June 23, and Cardiff on Sunday, June 25.

England squad: Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire); Sam Billings (Kent); Jos Buttler (Lancashire); Mason Crane (Hampshire); Tom Curran (Surrey); Liam Dawson (Hampshire); Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire); Chris Jordan (Sussex); Liam Livingstone (Lancashire); Dawid Malan (Middlesex); Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain); Craig Overton (Somerset); Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire); Jason Roy (Surrey); David Willey (Yorkshire); Mark Wood (Durham).