Tremlett's pace aces are making lightning progress

Tremlett will be an interested spectator when Surrey take on Kent in a vital Friends Life t20 fixture at The Oval tonight. A victory for the home team would secure a quarter-final spot in the competition, while Kent know that a win for them would lift them above Surrey and into the top four of the South Group with only one round of matches remaining.

Tremlett will not be able to help his county as his England bosses have taken the decision to withdraw him but the 29-year-old is confident Surrey's pace attack is in good hands - both now and for the future.

"It's very exciting," said Tremlett. "I can't think of another county where there is such a number of promising pace bowlers. There is Jade Dernbach, who has already played for England, then Stuart Meaker and Matt Dunn. There is also a player in the academy, George Edwards, who can bowl with a lot of pace.

"Although I'm away playing for England a lot of the time this summer, I was around last season when some of these bowlers were coming through and they have come to me for advice from time to time.

"They are really eager to learn and they do try to pick my brains.

"I try to offer whatever I can and I'm sure they are taking on board both what I say and what the coaches say.

"Jade has managed to force his way into the England set-up already and there is no reason some of the other guys can't follow him in the future if they keep performing."

Unlike Tremlett, Dernbach was picked for the recent one-day series against Sri Lanka and played in all five games for England, taking the final two wickets in the decisive match to secure victory for his team, while the raw pace of 22-year-old Meaker has already caught the eye of the selectors and yielded 26 wickets at 21.5 in the County Championship this season.

Dunn, who is 19, has played only two matches in Division Two this summer but collected five for 56 to help his county defeat Derbyshire late in May. Surrey are, however, only fifth in the table - the top two will be promoted to Division One at the end of the season - and this suggests there is still work for these bowlers to do.

Tremlett understands how difficult it is to maintain progress as a quick bowler. He was first selected for the Test team against India in 2007 but injuries and loss of form meant that it was not until the Third Ashes Test in Perth last December that his opportunity came again.

"As a fast bowler, you are more susceptible than others to injuries and they can always set you back and affect your mind," Tremlett added. "It's very frustrating when you're out, even for a short time: you have to do rehab and it can take a lot of mental energy.

"At a young age, you can't just expect to bowl well in every game. You will be inconsistent, so it's about developing consistency, improving your action and just gaining that experience you need.

"But they are going in the right direction.
People think Dernbach is just a one-day bowler but he can offer a lot more. He swings the ball both ways and the fact he's been in the Test squad proves he's highly regarded.

"Meaker can bowl at express pace and can reverse-swing it. I would think England would pick him for a Lions squad pretty soon, because he is the most promising young quick bowler around.

"It will be a couple of years before he is in the full squad but he has taken a good number of wickets this year. Because of that raw pace, I can see him being the main man for England."

Dernbach should return for the Twenty20 fixture this evening, while Tremlett's next assignment will be against the most powerful batting line-up in world cricket. Finding a way to outwit Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman is enough to concern any bowler, yet Tremlett should be encouraged by his performances on India's last tour in 2007.

The 6ft 7ins former Hampshire man collected 13 wickets in the series and troubled India with the sharp bounce he was able to generate. With England keen for pace and carry in the wickets during the remainder of the summer, the four-match series could be a productive one for Tremlett.

"It's come around very quickly," said Tremlett. "It doesn't seem long ago at all that we were finishing the Test series against Sri Lanka but it will be great to get back to it. I bowled well last time India were here and I have to try to take confidence from that."