Robin Martin-Jenkins hopes coaching from a fast bowling legend can help him fulfill his England ambitions.

The Sussex all-rounder flies out to India today to spend two weeks in Madras at the cricket academy run by Dennis Lillee, the former Australian great who took 355 wickets in 70 Tests between 1970-82.

Martin-Jenkins, who has funded the trip himself, believes he faces a make or break season as he tries to break into the international set-up.

He said: "From what I can gather from speaking to people the selectors don't rate my bowling highly enough. If I'm going to play for England I need to be taking 50-60 Championship wickets every year to make them sit up and take notice."

The 28-year-old was an ever present in Sussex's Championship-winning campaign last year but took only 31 Championship wickets, ten fewer than in 2002.

Of all the bowlers on the Sussex staff he was marginalised the most by the arrival of Mushtaq Ahmed, bowling 104 fewer Championship overs than he did the previous year.

He said: "When we played Warwickshire last season I spoke to their (Australian) coach John Inverarity who is very highly respected and he told me that Dennis was the best bowling coach he knew and that if there was anything to pick up on in my action he would find it. I've already done a lot of work this winter. I'm not re-modelling my bowling action, just tinkering with it and fine-tuning.

"I've wanted to go back to India again. I spent time there last winter in Bombay and it's an amazing place."

Martin-Jenkins wants to make his action more efficient by ensuring his shoulder is straighter in delivery and his wrist stays behind the ball. It should enable him to get more bounce and sideways movement and perhaps even increase his pace.

His decision to seek advice from Lillee has been applauded by Sussex's backroom staff.

Coach Mark Robinson, who played with Lillee at Northamptonshire during his own playing days, believes Martin-Jenkins will return a better bowler.

"We're really chuffed by Robin's commitment, not only in paying for his trip himself but by the work he has already done this season," said Robinson.

"He had a good year with the bat last season and continues to make progress as a one-day bowler, but perhaps he didn't get as many Championship wickets as he'd have liked.

"It was difficult for our seamers because Mushtaq Ahmed was able to keep one end tied down with his control. There was pressure for the other guys because they knew that if they didn't do the business in their first or second spell they might not get another one, it was real dog-eat-dog.

"But he will definitely benefit from some coaching from Dennis. He helped me a lot when I was at Northampton, not only techincally but by making you feel as if you were his best mate."