Cricket: Tremlett Targets Extended Career

Surrey and England fast bowler Chris Tremlett hopes the surgery on his back will extend his career and has targeted a Test return once he regains full fitness.

The 30-year-old has made only three Twenty20 appearances for his county since picking up an injury on England duty in the first Test against Pakistan in Dubai in January.

The tall paceman underwent surgery after subsequent scans discovered a bulging disc in his back and spent five months on the sidelines.

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"It has been a frustrating lay-off and a long process but I guess the light is at the end of the tunnel," said Tremlett.

"Hopefully I can keep the back strong, the operation will have worked and it puts a few more years on my career."

Tremlett has become accustomed to injuries during his 12-year first-class career, with fitness problems limiting him to only 10 Test appearances since his debut against India in July 2007.

He claimed 17 wickets in three Tests in England's 2010-11 Ashes victory in Australia and was the toast of several British news sport networks, before playing a key role in the win over Sri Lanka on home soil last summer.

Tremlett played in the first Test against India at Lord's but his participation in the rest of the series was ended by a hamstring problem.

The Surrey seamer has played just one Test match since. However, he has not given up on his international career.

"I've been finding my feet with the second team. I've played a few Twenty20 games but it's going to be harder work playing in the four-day game," added Tremlett.

"When I had the surgery, I knew it wasn't going to be a case of being able to blast myself back into Surrey and the England team. I'm looking to get back in the Test team but it all starts with Surrey."