Jarvis is back in the fast lane

PAUL JARVIS has pledged to be fit to spearhead Sussex's bowling attack, five months after suffering a career-threatening injury. The former England pace ace could even be ready for the opening game against Lancashire at Hove in the Championship, starting a week on Friday. Jarvis, who ruptured an achilles tendon playing club cricket in New Zealand in November, revealed: "The injury feels really good and I'm recovering really well. "I bowled for half an hour each day for three days last week and had no adverse reaction. "I'm really confident that I should be fit for the first game or there or thereabouts if not." Jarvis, 32, was already suffering from tendinitis in the achilles stemming from a separate injury he sustained last summer. The achilles ruptured as he sprinted for a ball in the field. He had an operation at the end of November, then spent nine weeks in plaster. "I had a lot of doubts," he admitted. "When you are in plaster you wonder at my age whether it is going to repair properly and if you are ever going to get back. "But I now feel I am. I'm quite optimistic about the future. "A lot of people in New Zealand kept telling me to give Zinzan Brooke a ring. "He was out of plaster in eight weeks and eight weeks later was playing in the World Cup as number eight for the All Blacks. "If he can put that sort of strain on the same injury playing rugby then I am sure I can still bowl quickly." Meanwhile, Michael Bevan could make his Sussex debut a match earlier than expected away to Essex in the Sunday League on April 26. The Aussie all-rounder had been earmarked for the B&H clash against Middlesex at Lord's three days later. But Sussex are hoping he will now be available a bit sooner after Australia's tour of India and the one-day series in Sharjah. Sussex's opening friendly against Worcestershire at Hove yesterday was washed out. They are due to begin a four-day warm-up against Durham at Hove tomorrow (11am).

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