Gidman hopeful of bowling again after surgery

Alex Gidman, the Gloucestershire captain, declared his ankle operation a success and says he is confident of bowling in the 2010 season.

Gidman, 28, underwent surgery two weeks ago and was not certain whether he would be able to bowl again. Yet he told BBC Radio Bristol that he is more positive after speaking to his surgeon.

"The surgeon is very happy with what he found and what he did," said Gidman. "The early signs are that it went okay and I'm pretty hopeful it will have the desired result. I was on crutches for a couple of days and then back walking around slowly building it up. Everything is on track and I'm on the bike getting the range of movement back.

"We'd pretty much tried everything from changing my bowling action to wearing tennis shoes and a brace. So this was a last resort but hopefully something that is going to work."

Though primarily a batsman, bowling is an important aspect of his game and he has taken 87 first-class wickets but feels that the limited-over matches is where he can really make an impact for the side he took over as captain at the beginning of last season.

"It would be nice to bowl pain-free again and play a bigger part in the games that we play. In the first half of the season where we reached the semis of the Friends Provident I bowled in pretty much every game. It's probably where the team missed my bowling most, not being able to contribute for the whole season.

"So hopefully, personally and for the team, we should see some benefit if I'm fit and ready to go."