James Kirtley has never been one for huge shows of emotion.

So it was not a great surprise that when news that he was clear to resume his career broke on Monday it was Sussex coach Mark Robinson, rather than Kirtley himself, who could barely contain his pleasure.

"It feels like a lottery win," said Robinson. "It really is a time for rejoicing."

Kirtley, meanwhile, headed back to his Eastbourne home to quietly reflect that for the second time in ten years he has effectively saved his career.

Kirtley's first brush with the authorities came while he was making his England one-day debut in 2001.

After undergoing remedial work on his bowling action he was cleared the following year and went on to fulfil his dreams and play Test cricket.

His England career is probably over. But today he will just be grateful that he still has a career left, that he has goals to aim for both individually and within the context of an emerging Sussex team.

The degree of flexibility bowlers are allowed in their delivery arm has been relaxed since Kirtley's first brush with the laws. Fifteen per cent is permitted compared to ten per cent in 2001 but the big difference is that monitoring actions is a lot more stringent.

Put two video stills of Kirtley bowling now and a year ago and, to the naked eye, it would be virtually impossible to tell any difference. But the specialist cameras which were used when Kirtley's remodelled action was filmed a fortnight ago take 25 images per second.

They were able to discern that when he bowled six yorkers, slower balls and bouncers he conformed on each occasion.

So what difference will Sussex supporters sitting in the Hove deckchairs notice when he takes the new ball in the first match against Warwickshire next month?

"The most obvious thing is that I've cut my run-up by a third and I go from a standing start as opposed to rocking in before," Kirtley said.

"The approach is more measured, cosmetically it will look a lot smoother and efficient. The ball will be delivered from a slightly lower trajectory but there is no loss of pace from out of the hand."

It would be hard to put Kirtley in the same bracket as Richard Hadlee, Dennis Lillee and Glenn McGrath but he does have something in common with those fast-bowling greats.

Like Kirtley, they all cut their run-ups in their early thirties to extend their careers. Unlike the others, though, Kirtley did it out of necessity.

As both he and Robinson acknowledge, the hard work is only just beginning.

Monitoring his action to make sure it remains repeatable and within the laws is just as important.

If he were to be called this season, and he will be scrutinised more closely than ever, it would almost certainly lead to another ban. Kirtley's mental toughness never ceases to amaze but would he be able to rebuild his career for a third time?

For make no mistake, what he has gone through since last October has been much harder than the rehabilitation work he did in 2002.

Illegal bowling action is the most emotive issue in world cricket and since the ICC laid down its new guidelines a year ago India's Harbhajan Singh, Jermaine Lawson (West Indies) and Pakistan's Shabbir Ahmed and Shoaib Malik have all been reported, like Kirtley, and forced to undertake remedial work.

But Kirtley seems to gain strength through adversity. Even after he failed a mock test in December designed to see how much remained to be done he simply redoubled his efforts. The prospect of losing your livelihood tends to sharpen the focus.

"It has caused me sleepless nights, I haven't been the most pleasant company," he admitted.

"When we got those results back in December it was so disappointing because it felt as if we had achieved nothing.

"At times I have felt like saying how unfair the whole thing is. But when you realise something that is so special to you might be taken away it's amazing the strength it gives you to carry on."

This is very much a success story made in Sussex. Kirtley only had three sessions with the ECB's bowling coach Troy Cooley, something Robinson is privately fuming about.

But when Robinson had run out of theories and ideas, coaches Mark Davis and Keith Greenfield stepped in.

Robinson said: "When we were wondering what to do next they took up the batten. Ben Haining (fitness coach) and Stuart Osborne (physio) have kept him going physically."

It's been a journey of discovery for both Robinson and Kirtley. "I've learned a lot about myself and a lot about the system," said the coach.

"But most of all I've learned what a tough cookie Ambi is although I don't think anyone realises how tough.

"He was struggling to come to terms with it before Christmas but since then he's been in the nets day in, day out. The timing is awesome, the day the players come back for pre-season."

For Kirtley, pre-season started in October and skipper Chris Adams will allow him some leeway over the next few days to reflect and contemplate a summer when he has the added distraction of running a benefit.

But like everyone with a passion for Sussex cricket, he is thrilled that the sight of Kirtley steaming down the Hove slope will not be consigned to the memory for a few years yet. Least of all Kirtley, who has emerged from the darkest few months of his career ready to strain every sinew on the county's behalf again , just like he has always done.