Tremlett's hip hooray

Unbeaten in the Championship by the start of June and riding high in the totesport League - there are plenty of smiling faces at the Rose Bowl. One of the widest grins is being worn by Chris Tremlett, proud owner of a county cap and a realistic England wannabe once again.

A total of 17 wickets at 19.11 in his first four Championship outings of the summer proves Tremlett is back to fitness and form following a frustrating 2003. He ended last summer troubled by a hip injury and spent the winter watching the likes of Sajid Mahmood emerge as the next generation of England bowlers.

"He had a hip operation at the end of the season and we sent him out to Sydney during the winter," says his father and Hampshire director of cricket Tim. "He was based about 20 minutes from the SCG. Our physio also works for New South Wales and he fixed him up with a personal trainer. He worked on fitness and hardly bowled at all."

The Australian influence continued when Tremlett returned. Bruce Reid, the Hampshire bowling coach, has tinkered with his action. "When he came home he needed to do a bit of bowling," says Tim Tremlett. "Bruce has tried to make sure he stands a bit more upright at the point of delivery and does not fall away quite as much."

Skipper Shane Warne has been so impressed by Tremlett that he dropped a heavy hint to David Graveney that he should pop down to the Rose Bowl to see the 22-year-old in action. Tremlett, though, is more concerned with staying fit.

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