Bichel to return from shoulder surgery

Major shoulder surgery would be enough to end the careers of most 38-year-old fast bowlers. However, Andy Bichel has put his serious injury problem behind him and will launch his comeback via the Queensland Academy of Sport Second XI side early next month.

Bichel is hopeful of playing a key role in Queensland's Sheffield Shield season once he proves he has fully recovered from the injury, which kept him to three first-class games last summer. He started his return on the weekend when he bowled for the first time in nearly a year, taking 0 for 18 from five overs at club level.

"It was just nice to run in and bowl again," Bichel told AAP. "It's a good starting point."

His major test will come when he takes the ball in the second XI clash against the South Australia Second XI in Adelaide starting on November 3. Bichel will be lining up alongside Alister McDermott, the fast-bowling son of Bichel's former Queensland team-mate Craig McDermott.

"When you start playing against a bloke's son - yeah, that makes you feel your age," Bichel said. "But I feel fit and fresh and ready to go around again."