Kirtley's triumph for the county circuit

The dazzling impact made by James Kirtley with his match-winning performance at Trent Bridge represents not only a personal triumph for the Sussex fast bowler but an all-too-rare endorsement of much-maligned county cricket.

Central contracts and the academy system have threatened to make England Test caps the preserve of a select minority, but the success enjoyed by Kirtley and the Kent batsman Ed Smith, who made a first-innings half-century on his Test debut, will give new encouragement to county players of all ages that form in the shires can still open doors at the highest level.

Smith, whose welter of runs in the Championship won him his chance, was 26 last month. Kirtley, who first played county cricket eight years ago and has become one of the circuit's most consistent wicket takers, is 28, an age at which, in the current climate, many players would consider the chance of an international career to have passed them by.

This summer, Kirtley might have believed he was destined to be the perpetual nearly man, having been the unlucky 13th sent home from each of the previous four England Test squads, but he never stopped believing. His figures of 6 for 34 were the best by any Test debutant at Trent Bridge.

"I've had to make some disappointing journeys away from Test grounds this year, having been left out of the final line-up, but I've kept myself going with the belief that I would hopefully get my chance one day," he said yesterday. "Playing for my country is something I've wanted to do for a long time and I was not going to stop trying. They always say that you get picked for England on your achievements for your county and I've kept working hard to get wickets for Sussex."

With more than 450 first-class wickets to his name - 50 or more in each of the last five seasons - Kirtley has achieved plenty, although England's practice of picking and nurturing young talent has led to fewer opportunities along the traditional route to selection, which is why the captain, Michael Vaughan, is keen that county players see the success of the two Trent Bridge debutants as an incentive to keep persevering.

"Their success just proves that a player who has a good couple of months in county cricket will get a chance with England," Vaughan said. "I hope all county players will look at the success James and Ed Smith have had in this match and strive to emulate their achievements."

Kirtley has had more handicaps to overcome than most, after his reputation was tarnished by doubts over the legitimacy of his action. Remedial action after it was officially questioned in Zimbabwe in October 2001 satisfied the International Cricket Council, but he has had to contend with dark whisperings ever since.

"I've had obstacles that other players have not faced, but you just have to block it all out of your mind and keep on working," he said.

Graeme Smith, South Africa's captain, hopes Kirtley's dream debut will inspire a performance from one of his squad at Headingley on Thursday, when the tourists will have to overcome the absence of Shaun Pollock, their best bowler at Trent Bridge.

"On this wicket, all a bowler had to do was get the ball in the right area because every now and then something would happen," Smith said. "But Kirtley hit those areas consistently well and put our batsmen under pressure. What we will need at Headingley is someone to come forward like him and take responsibility as he did."

JAMES KIRTLEY FACTFILE

1975: Born 10 January at Eastbourne, Sussex.

1995: Makes county debut for Sussex.

1996: Playing for winter club Mashonaland against England in a tour match in Harare, dismisses England captain Michael Atherton and vice-captain Nasser Hussain, and finishes with 5 for 53.

1998: Gains county cap.

1999: Called up for England A's winter tour of Bangladesh and New Zealand. Concerns raised about legality of his bowling action.

2000: Left out of England A tour to West Indies after concerns over his action. Later cleared of throwing by England and Wales Cricket Board, allowing him to return to international cricket.

2001: Makes one-day international debut against Zimbabwe in Harare, claiming 2 for 33, but match referee reports his action.

2002: Modified action is officially cleared by ECB after work with specialist bowling coach Bob Cottam. Named in England's one-day squad for the NatWest Series against India and Sri Lanka, but later ruled out after dislocating right hand bowling in the nets. Undergoes surgery on hand and named as Darren Gough's replacement in England's squad for ICC Champions' Trophy tournament.

2003: Called into the England Test squad for the opening match against Zimbabwe. On Test debut against South Africa takes 6 for 34 in second innings as England win third match of series by 70 runs at Trent Bridge to level the series at 1-1. Ends match with eight wickets after first-innings 2 for 80.