Alex Tudor's second Test life may have been a long time coming, but the Surrey paceman is determined to seize the chance offered to him as he prepares to face the mighty Australians in the Third Test at Trent Bridge. The 23-year-old, who took an impressive 4-89 at Perth on his international debut in 1998, said: "It's been a long time and hopefully I'll grab the opportunity and show what I can do.

"Obviously I've been unfortunate with a few injuries, and I'm just grateful and happy that I'm back in the squad. It's been very frustrating. I'm a more improved player with a bit more experience. I'm a better cricketer, I know my game a lot better."

Tudor recalled the wicket on which he made his Test debut as, "a fast bowler's dream. I was very nervous before the game. I was young, I was trying to get them hopping a bit, a little raw but I just tried to run in and bowl quick." Indeed, many regarded Tudor as an out-and-out pace bowler in the Brett Lee mould. However, he is quick to accentuate the subtleties of his bowling: "I try and bowl line and length and with my extra bounce try to create problems that way. As I've gone on I've tried to mould myself more on a Glenn McGrath and a Curtly Ambrose. Later on in Curtly's career, he was regularly bowling at 80-82mph and caused a lot of trouble.

"I'm a rhythm bowler, I'm not someone who's going to try and sprint in and try to bowl quick; all my action will go off. The ball carries through and looks nice and that's what I'm trying to do. If the rhythm is right you have that gear you can step up, get it around the 87-88mph if you are happy with your rhythm. You always have it in reserve that you can bowl quicker."

Citing McGrath and Ambrose as the best examples of the way in which he wants to bowl, Tudor has benefited from working with and learning from the great West Indian quickie Courtney Walsh: "he's been very good for me. I've become quite good friends with Courtney, and I asked him to look at me from the side and then I met up with him again in the winter.

"He was pretty happy with what he saw, but said I've got to try and get it into the business area, so the batsmen don't know whether to go forward or back, so I can do it even if closed my eyes and that's what I try to do."

While he may be dreaming of ripping through the Aussie top order while asleep, Tudor's eyes are wide open as regards the formidable challenge the world champions pose. Bowling at Trent Bridge, the flattest of England's Test pitches, will not be easy, and Tudor will be focussed on keeping to a consistent line and length to pin the free-scoring tourists down. "Watching the last two Tests, they come out very positive and it's very important that we bowl a lot of maidens, so we can keep them under pressure". Tudor will be hoping that this time around he can cement his place in the England side, rebuilding their Ashes hopes as he does so.

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