The King family, from Hunstanton, were celebrating yesterday, after receiving some good news from the England bowls selectors.

Former world indoor singles champion Mervyn was given the chance to make a comeback at international level, and his 23-year-old son Sam learnt that he had been drafted into the national Under-25 side, and will be making his England debut at Uddingston in Glasgow in September.

'I announced my retirement from international bowls last year, but I missed it so much I made myself available again,' said Mervyn, who is 46. 'To be honest, I was surprised I missed it all – the sense of occasion, the level of competition, and playing with my mates.'

The selectors, of course, jumped at the chance to reinstate King – though he was under no illusion that he had to play his way back into the team by producing the goods in the international trial in Warwickshire on Sunday.

'After 20 years in the team, I felt lost last year, and I knew I'd made a mistake – but I knew I had to satisfy the selectors if I was to get back in the side – and fortunately I had quite a good trial,' he said yesterday in a break from his work as an estate manager. I'm really looking forward to the series, which will be played in Llandrindod Wells in Mid Wales from 28 June to 1 July.

'We've only won the British team title once in the last nine years – in 2007 – and it's about time we won it again.'

King's pleasure at being restored to the national side was increased when he heard that Sam was to make his junior debut. 'That's some achievement, being picked outdoors the same year that he was selected for the national indoor under-25 side.'

Mervyn has been selected to play second on a rink skipped by team captain Stuart Airey.

Sam will lead for his Norfolk team-mate Wayne Willgress, who will skip a rink at this level for the third year running.