'The first step at the moment is to try to get a county contract, bowl the way I have been doing the last couple of months, and take it from there' © Getty Images Enlarge

Chris Schofield, the former England and Lancashire legspinner, has been registered by Surrey for the remainder of the season following injuries to Anil Kumble and Ian Salisbury - their two other legspinners.

Schofield played in his first competitive match for over two years yesterday: a Pro40 game for Surrey against Yorkshire at The Oval. He had left Lancashire in acrimonious circumstances when the club released him in 2004. Unhappy with the decision, he successfully sued his former employers for unfair dismissal in April 2005. Since then, Schofield has played for his old club Littleborough, Minor County cricket for Suffolk and also turned out for Durham and Surrey second XIs.

He made his Test debut in 2000 against Zimbabwe as England desperately scrabbled to find a world-class spinner. He showed greater promise with the bat than the ball by hitting 57 and was dropped after just two Tests. However, he remains adamant he has the quality and ability to play cricket at the highest level once more.

"It's a bit of a reality check, and frustrating, because I've played at a very high level, but I'm just relieved that counties are still giving me the opportunity to get a contract," he told BBC Five Live earlier this month. "Now I'm proving a couple of people wrong with all the overs I'm bowling.

"Anyone who is playing cricket has to have the desire to play for England," he said. "The first step at the moment is to try to get a county contract, bowl the way I have been doing the last couple of months, and take it from there."