Gurjit Sandhu is hoping the recent clamour for left arm pace bowlers will help fast-track his progress through the Middlesex system.
The recent World Cup, won by Australia, saw left arm bowlers such as Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc shine, while England’s right arm pace attack floundered.
The 23-year-old, who was brought up in Isleworth and played for Wycombe House CC before moving to Twickenham, has made three County Championship appearances for Middlesex in his career and is hoping his alternative action will earn him favour with the selectors.
He said: “I’m targeting all formats. A left armer in any format can be an addition to the team.
“It’s the period of cricket [where left arm seamers are the flavour]. Around the county circuit there are left armers. Tymal Mills and Harry Gurney are around and it won’t be too long until one of us plays for England.
“Looking at the left armers like Trent Boult and Mitchell Starc, I also swing the ball like them and look up to them.”
Sandhu endured a difficult winter as a back injury forced him to return home from playing grade cricket in Australia.
And he is now targeting a return to fitness before challenging for a first team spot.
He explained: “My winter did not go all to plan. I went to the Darren Lehmann academy and was playing grade cricket but I had to come back at Christmas with a back injury.
“It’s frustrating and I’ve only just got fit in the last three or four weeks or so. I want to get fit to play a game of cricket and force my way into the first team.”
