Ed Joyce's bid to revive his international career has received an unexpected boost from an Australian.

The 30-year-old has been among the most consistent batsmen in one-day cricket this season with 869 runs in all competitions including three hundreds as Sussex reached the final of the Friends Provident Trophy.

He was also part of a successful Twenty20 Cup team for the second year running when Sussex lifted the trophy for the first time at Edgbaston last Saturday.

But instead of heading off to Belfast on Tuesday with Sussex team-mates Luke Wright and Matt Prior, when England play a warm-up game against Ireland ahead of a seven-match one-day series against Australia, Joyce will be putting his feet up.

That is a major surprise for Somerset captain Justin Langer who got a first-hand view of Joyce’s form when he made 94 in Monday’s Pro40 League defeat at Taunton Langer may have some sympathy for his fellow leftie. The Australian played in 104 Tests but made just eight one-day appearances for his country between 1993-97.

He said: “Joyce is a very good player and I can't believe he is not in the (England) one-day set-up because he has made a lot of runs for Sussex this year.

“I remember watching him make a hundred against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in a one-day international in 2007 and being impressed.

“He is a brilliant cricketer and I am not sure why he is not in the set-up but that's for the selectors to worry about. I am sure Sussex are happy to have him in their side.”

Joyce played 17 one-day internationals but hasn’t been involved since the 2007 World Cup.