Ready for action (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Ready for action

ENGLAND hopeful Jon Lewis has declared himself ready to help his country wrestle the Ashes off Australia this summer and insists: "I know my chance is coming.''

The Swindon seam bowler has yet to appear in a Test match, despite being a part of the last three squads.

He was a late call-up for England's final Test in South Africa last winter but wasn't used and was also overlooked for the recent hammerings of Bangladesh.

Ironically, Lewis could face the Aussies in a Twenty20 clash at the Rose Bowl in Southampton tonight (5.30pm).

But the Ashes are what this summer is all about and the Gloucestershire man is convinced he will get his chance to put the best Test side in the world to the sword.

"At the end of the day an opportunity is going to arise for me in the next couple of months,'' said the Swindon Cricket Club ace.

"Somewhere along the line, there will be an injury or something else will happen and there will be a chance for me.

"It has been quite difficult being called into the squads and then not actually playing.

"But you have to keep yourself sharp, keep working hard and then when you get picked make sure you do well enough to get picked next time.''

Lewis showed the England management his capabilities with a 3-45 haul, while guesting for Hampshire in a warm-up clash against the national side at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

He is already part of the limited over squad which will tackle Australia and Bangladesh in the NatWest Series in the next few weeks.

But he also aims to ensure he is still a part of the plans for the looming Test series.

"I'm in both squads, Test and one-day which I've never done before so it is a massive opportunity for me now.

"I'm looking forward to getting into it and getting among the wickets.''

Australia will, inevitably, start as Ashes favourites but Lewis believes England can head into that series in good heart.

"England are a very confident outfit at the moment having had so many Test wins recently,'' he added.

"They are very professional and until someone comes along to knock that confidence, we are going to be a hard team to beat.''