Footitt ready to seize belated chance

Mark Footitt believes he is ready to make up for lost time when the Boxing Day Test against South Africa gets underway in Durban in just under a fortnight's time, with Surrey's newest recruit itching to make his Test debut despite turning 30 last month.

Regardless of what happens this winter, Footitt will be starting a significant new chapter of his career at The Oval next season, when he makes his debut for newly-promoted Surrey, having moved on from the club where he rebuilt his career, Derbyshire, at the end of the summer.

However, with 158 wickets at 21.57 in the space of two seasons for Derbyshire, Footitt's 90mph pace and awkward left-arm line has attracted interest from England's head coach, Trevor Bayliss, ever since he began his tenure ahead of the Ashes last summer.

The ferocity of the onslaught that England endured from that other rapid left-armer, Mitchell Johnson, during the 2013-14 Ashes is a significant reason why Footitt's rare abilities are set to be called upon.

However, speaking to reporters at Potchefstroom, where England are warming up ahead of their opening tour match against a South Africa Invitational XI on Tuesday, he downplayed such comparisons.

"It's nice to be compared to bowlers like that. But I'm just me really and I'll go out and do what I do best."

It is the lessons he gleaned at his original county, Nottinghamshire, that could stand him in the best stead in South Africa. Prior to his release in the 2010 season, and before he underwent an operation in 2012 to remove a disc in his back that could have ended his career, Footitt watched his fellow Nottinghamshire left-armer, Ryan Sidebottom, lead the line for England at the age of 29, having been overlooked for six years since his one-off Test cap against Pakistan in 2001.

"I was at Notts when Ryan was there and playing for England so back then it was very much trying to learn from him and speaking to him," Footitt told

"I still speak to him sometimes nowadays," he added. "I have taken a lot from him playing one Test match and then coming back at a later age and doing well. It gives you that belief that whatever age you are you've still got a chance of playing international cricket.

"I think you just have to enjoy every day," he added. "It took a long time for me to get here but things happen and people develop at different ages and I seem to have developed a bit better in the past two or three years.

"I think it's just getting to a certain age and learning your game. When I was younger I was very raw, very pacy but didn't have much accuracy. But hard work has got me to where I am today. It's just an exciting time to be here really."

Footitt's call-up this winter was no great surprise given the traditional importance of fast bowling on tours of South Africa. However, he knows he is in a prime position to be fast-tracked to a debut following the injuries to Mark Wood and Steven Finn that thwarted their selections for the tour, and the surprise omission of Yorkshire's Liam Plunkett.

"I think I'm 100% ready," he said. "I've had a good two or three years in county cricket and after stepping into the nets with the [England] lads I know my game and I know I'm as ready as I can be."

Footitt's first involvement with the senior squad came on the pre-Ashes bonding trip to Spain - Bayliss's first involvement with his new team - but his first taste of dressing-room action came in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, when he was called into the squad and watched from a prime position as Stuart Broad routed Australia on the first morning of the match.

"My first day of the Ashes was brilliant with Broady taking eight-fer and bowling Australia out for 60," he said. "It gives you a great hunger in wanting to be involved and wanting to play for England. Being in that squad and being around the guys was brilliant. It just gave you the hunger to get your foot in that door."