Jarvis returns to Zimbabwe set-up

Fast bowler Kyle Jarvis is close to a national recall after being included in Zimbabwe XI's squad for their two-day match against Australia A at Kwekwe. Jarvis, 22, was fast-tracked into the national side after the appointment of Heath Streak as bowling coach but picked up a stress fracture in his back during the tour of the West Indies in 2009-10.

One of the fastest bowlers in the country, Jarvis travelled to England during the Zimbabwean off season after completing his rehabilitation and played club cricket with Burwell before being picked up by Essex's Second XI. With his inclusion in the team to face the Australians, he is one step closer to adding to his nine internationals for Zimbabwe, but insisted he could only make the national side on merit.

"Honestly I am not going to just walk into the national team," Jarvis told zimcricket.org. "I have to first get myself back in the team and I am going to do that by getting a few performances in.

"I would like to say I am where I was and I would like to get faster than I was; plans are there to get me quicker over the next few months as well. I am much lighter and stronger than I was before now."

Australia A surged unbeaten to the final of the A Team Tri-Series in Harare, sneaking past South Africa A by two runs on Friday. Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus have since been added to their squad, and after their warm-up match they will face what is effectively a full-strength Zimbabwe in two four-day games, the first of which starts at the Country Club in Harare on July 15.

"They [Australians] are class players and I have played against class players before," Jarvis said. "I just have to worry about what I do at my end [and] not what they are going to do. So as long as I do what I do best then I will be fine. I am definitely excited about what's coming up."