Danny Briggs is ready to seize an unexpected England chance.

But the Sussex spinner admits he was all set for a winter at home.

Briggs is in the United Arab Emirates set to play for England Lions against Pakistan A in various formats.

It all gets under way with a four-day contest on Sunday followed by a five-game ODI series and a pair of Twenty20 contests.

He got in through the back door to a degree, called up to replace injured Lancashire spinner Matt Parkinson.

But the call rewards an excellent 2018 season in all aspects and in all formats with Sussex.

It also opens the door to get back in the England picture more permanently.

It is getting on for seven years since Briggs, now 27, enjoyed his one and only ODI, taking 2-39 off ten overs against Pakistan in Dubai.

He then played seven Twenty20 internationals in a 16-month period which ended in January 2014.

Now the door has re-opened and he believes he is better prepared to find a way through.

Even though the chance was not one he expected.

Briggs was in wind-down mode when the call came recently from Andy Flower.

He told The Argus: “It was a surprise. Normally in October I have a bit of rest and time to relax.

“It gave me a few weeks before that first game to get ready.

“But I would have been at home this winter.

“I was putting myself forward for a couple of the T20 leagues, like the PSL.

"But it was only on the off-chance.

"Hopefully I will take the chance to play and show what I can do.

"I feel good from the season I have had.

"It's nice to have the opportunity."

Briggs stepped up his training at England’s Loughborough base.

He then travelled east with some experience of what to expect from venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, albeit from some time ago.

He said: "The wickets were flat, decent for batting.

"If they deteriorate, they become more helpful for spinners.

"All being well, they will suit me after they have have been used for a little while."

Asked whether he believes he can break back into the senior England side, Briggs replied: "You have to have that ambition.

"The motivation is still there.

"The main focus is to keep performing with Sussex.

"If I do that, you never know. It’s nice to be involved."

Briggs was hugely reliable for Sussex head coach Jason Gillespie throughout last season.

He skippered at times, took on all challenges with red, pink and white ball and even opened the batting on one occasion.

Had the county still awarded one player of the year prize, covering all forms of the game, he would have been a strong contender to win it.

Briggs slipped away from the national set-up very quickly last time and it has taken some while to get back.

But the move from Hampshire to Sussex has worked out well.

He said: "I was pleased with my season.

"I think I have got a bit better each year.

“I feel like I contributed in all forms but I still have that ambition to do better.

"We came so close in T20, which as a great sign.

"We now have to take that one step forward.

"We played good cricket all year."

When Briggs gets back home and starts to think of pre-season, the goal will also be to help Sussex back into the top tier of the Specsavers County Championship.

Three teams go up next summer – and Sussex came third in 2018.

Briggs said: "In four-day cricket the aim has to be go to up.

"If we can all improve by a small margin, we can do that."