Mike Smith admits that there have been times in recent months when he thought he might not play cricket again.

But Gloucestershire's left-arm opening bowler and former England man, widely regarded as the foremost exponent of swing bowling in domestic cricket, told CricInfo that he is now optimistic that he'll be back in action at the start of the 2002 season.

"I've had a couple of injections, but they've not worked," Smith said. "The next step is to see a surgeon. But I'm quite optimistic now. It is the sort of injury that many footballers suffer from – an inflamed bone that pulls on the tendons.

"I did it last July, but carried on as I thought it would probably go in a couple of weeks. In retrospect that wasn't such a good idea. It could have been career threatening and there is no short-term cure, but things seem to be a bit better now.

"I've a year left on my contract, and the option for a further one so I've a couple of good years left in me yet."

The Australians' return to England brings back memories of Smith's solitary Test against them, when they were last here in 1997.

"They're even better than when I played against them. I think Lee is an improvement on Reiffel, and Gilchrist – though perhaps not as good a 'keeper – makes their batting even more dangerous. Mark Taylor was a bit out of form then too, so they do look a fair bit stronger now."

And does an Ashes series make him recall his own Test career? "It's come up a few times, especially with regard to my benefit. In fact there's a picture of 'it' in the brochure," he says ruefully.

The 'it' that he refers too is, of course, the moment that Graham Thorpe dropped Matthew Elliott on 32 in the Test at Headingley in 1997. Elliott went on to hit a match-winning 199 and that first Test wicket never did come.

But Smith isn't the type to mope. "I look back with pure enjoyment. It didn't go particularly well on the field, but I've played for England and that's a massive achievement and honour," he says with refreshing enthusiasm.

But doesn't he reflect on what might have been? "I was never going to play 50 Tests for England," he says modestly. "I'm not particularly quick and I don't benefit from the bounce of the taller guys."

Smith was rated as the top English one-day bowler in county cricket for the 2000 season and only Glenn McGrath beat him overall. Many people feel – Gloucestershire supporters in particular – that he could have had a greater role to play at international level.

"Oh, I think the door is shut now," he admits with his customary frankness. "I'm too old. I'll be 34 at the start of next year. Although I feel I could still do a good job I expect the onus is on building for the 2003 World Cup and I'll be getting on a bit by then."

And he has some advice for the England selectors too. "They should be looking at guys like Jon Lewis. He's developed into a fine bowler, and after a successful A Tour, we all hoped he'd win a call-up this summer."

Smith is sympathetic to Lewis' current injury plight and believes that the call-up for Somerset's Richard Johnson – deserved though it was – might well have gone to Lewis had he been fit.

"It's a terrible blow for him, it really is. He was the victim of the domino effect. He had to take up my share of overs and suffered a stress fracture partly as a result. And that means the club are without another leading bowler. It has been a frustrating year."

There were some raised eyebrows around the circuit when the speed cameras were introduced for one-day games. They showed Smith to be consistently around 82 mph – much quicker than was formerly believed.

"That didn't surprise me at all. Because I'm not tall I may not get the eye-catching bounce, but the ball speed is measured through the air, so skiddy bowlers like me can be deceptive."

He admits that life as a spectator hasn't been particularly easy. "At the start watching was hard, and the final of the B & H at Lord's was really terrible [Gloucestershire lost to Surrey]. I haven't been to all the away games, but I have been watching when I can. Now it's fine. I'm a pretty calm individual and if there's nothing I can do about it I don't worry."

Smith is a local favourite at Gloucestershire, and is enjoying a benefit season this year. "I've been overwhelmed by the support I've received. People have told me to take my time and make sure I come back fully fit. They've been great."

And the future? "I've been studying for a law degree, so that is where my future lies. But not just yet."

© CricInfo Ltd.