Learning from experience

CONTROVERSIAL England quickie James Kirtley has been working with the island's bowlers. The 33-year-old Sussex seamer was in Guernsey at the weekend as part of the island's coaching agreement with the county champions.

Kirtley's career has been dogged with accusations that he throws the ball instead of bowling it despite his action having been cleared a number of times by experts.

During his trip, he also took time on Friday to talk to the Grammar School's PE students about what it takes to become an elite sportsman.

Kirtley said he was happy to talk about the adversity that he had had to overcome in relation to allegations about his action.

'If you Google me, the first thing that comes up is about throwing,' he said.

'It was a testing time but, although I wouldn't want to have to go through it again, having gone through it I have learnt a lot about myself and there were some good things to come out of it.'

Kirtley sprang to prominence during England's tour of Zimbabwe in 1996-97 when as overseas player for Mashonaland took seven wickets against Mike Atherton's team.

After a number of successful county seasons, he made his England one-day debut in 2001 before eventually breaking into the Test team in 2003 against South Africa.

However, before he pulled on an England shirt he was filmed bowling by biomechanics experts and was subsequently cleared to play by an eight-man England Cricket Board panel.

But after he had made his one-day England debut, he was reported again and had to undergo remedial work on his action.

On the international stage, the Sussex man has had to play second fiddle to the likes of James Anderson, Steve Harmison and Simon Jones, which has restricted his Test appearances to four caps.

In the face of such adversity about his action, which would have seen off a lesser character, Kirtley has enjoyed some remarkable highlights, including bowling Sussex to victory in the 2006 C&G final when he took 5 for 27 against Lancashire.

He has also been an integral part of the Sussex team who have claimed back-to-back county championships.

Kirtley says it is going to be difficult to make it three in a row but they are looking to do it.

'There's no reason to say we can't repeat it but it will be tough,' he said.

And his prowess in the shorter version of the game earned him an international recall to the England team for Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa last year, although he did not cover himself in glory as his one over in the competition in England's match with Australia went for 17 runs.

'It wasn't brilliant, but there you go,' said Kirtley.

He still harbours hopes of turning out for England.

'I hope I've still got the skills to offer them,' he said.

The partnership between county champions Sussex and the Guernsey Cricket Board came about a couple of years ago.

'I think the partnership is great,' said Kirtley.

'It adds to the development of cricket and it widens our net.'

Guernsey's new high-performance coach, Jeremy Frith, was delighted to welcome Kirtley.

'Due to PwC's sponsorship and our link with Sussex CCC we have been able to access James's knowledge and experience,' he said.

'The sessions will allow the players and coaches to gain more information that can only help in the development of our fast bowlers.'

Kirtley spent Saturday working with the island's senior-squad quick bowlers Kris Moherndl, Blane Queripel, Jamie Nussbaumer and Tim Duke along with promising under-19 quickies Robbie Le Corre and Leo Rice.

The Rovers pair are part of an area of the game that the Guernsey Cricket Board are keen to develop.

'Being able to produce a group of highly skilled fast bowlers with the ability and/or potential to bowl at 80mph-plus is one of the medium to long-term aims of the GCB's performance programme,' said Frith. 'Without them, competing on good wickets against very good players is a significant challenge.'

Yesterday morning Kirtley attended the senior squad training session where the emphasis was on 50-over cricket.

'James has proved himself to be one of the country's most effective bowlers at the end of an innings which is one of the senior squad's target areas for development,' said Frith.