Tremlett: This is my last chance to impress

• Cricket365
• October 14, 2013

England and Surrey fast bowler Chris Tremlett feels that if he doesn't make the most of his chances during the Ashes in Australia at the end of the year, his time with the national side will be over.

England and Surrey fast bowler Chris Tremlett feels that if he doesn't make the most of his chances during the Ashes in Australia at the end of the year, his time with the national side will be over.

Tremlett was picked in the squad to go Down Under based primarily on his efforts on the previous tour to Oz, when he took 17 wickets in three Tests. The selectors are counting on his pace and bounce to make a difference on the faster tracks.

But Tremlett, who last played a Test in early 2012 before various injuries struck, knows he must take any chance he gets with both hands, if he even gets to play, given youngsters like Ben Stokes, Chris Jordan, Boyd Rankin and Chris Woakes also in the ranks behind Anderson, Broad and Finn.

The 32-year-old paceman said of the Ashes: "I am not getting any younger. So this might be my last chance. I do view it as a now or never situation. If I get another injury that might be it.

"It would be hard to go through what I've gone through again. If I got another stress fracture or if my back went again I am not sure I could go through another year of rehab. I've done enough rehab in my career.

"There are always people that talk about my injuries and say I don't care enough or I don't want it enough. That's another thing that motivates me. It's always nice to come back and prove certain people wrong.

"It something I get a bit of a buzz from: proving people wrong. People say you're not good enough, and you come back and perform. That's motivation in itself to do well and to keep working hard. All those things keep you going."

Since his return from injury earlier this past season, the Surrey paceman didn't have the best time of it, taking 32 wickets) but he still managed to capture the selectors' attentions, and now has faith that England bowling coach David Saker will keep him in mind.

Tremlett said: "My numbers might not be amazing this year, but it's not always just about stats. I know that is what generally people go on, but it's about how you are bowling as well. In the last two months of the season, I felt I was bowling near to my best.

"At the start of the season, I found it pretty tough finding my feet again. It's not been easy to get back and anyone will tell you, the pitches at The Oval have offered nothing to tall fast bowlers. I'm not making excuses, but the ball doesn't really bounce. Even when we've played away, we've played on some very flat pitches.

"In terms of pace, there were days when I was getting up there. I don't think I've ever really found 90mph, I would say my average speed is probably around 85mph on a good day, pushing high-80s.

"But the England team management were in touch reasonably early. That was good in itself, to know they were still thinking about me. Then they asked me to go and train at Lord's and bowl at the guys in the nets.

"I bowled pretty well. My numbers might not be amazing this year, but I certainly feel that I've progressed during the season after a torrid time with injury.

"When I go back to 2010, David Saker asked me to have a net here at The Oval just to have a look at me. That was my chance to really impress him. That net got me on the Ashes tour last time. It was about six weeks before the tour.

"Kevin Pietersen was having a bat and Saker wanted to see me bowl as he hadn't seen me before. I'm pretty sure that was the moment he saw something in me. People didn't think I would be picked but I was picked ahead of Ajmal Shahzad, who I think was originally going to go.

"Saker is someone who has always seen something in me, he's always backed me every time I've been in the England side and he knows what I can do. He knows it's not just about my height. He knows the skills I have as well."