Tremlett reveals his Rose Bowl mission

Chris Tremlett is determined to show everyone at Hampshire that, at 29 and at 6 feet 8 inches, he intends to shoe that he has finally grown up and is ready to perform on the international stage at the Rose Bowl.

Tremlett is the unassuming giant who, during 10 years spent with his home county, was the bowler with all the natural gifts who seemed a little too nice to make the most of them.

A move away from his comfort zone to Surrey at the start of last year was the catalyst for an improvement, which culminated in his starring role during the winter's Ashes. In the world of international cricket he is truly a big boy now.

He returns to Southampton to face Sri Lanka in the third Test on Thursday as an established member of the England attack for the first time and with a host of family and friends there to celebrate his belated emergence, the Daily Mail reports.

"I was at the Rose Bowl for a long time and to go back in an England shirt for their first Test is pretty special," said Tremlett.

He added: "It will be special for Rod Bransgrove (Hampshire's chairman) and everyone down there because they have worked very hard for this. I've got a lot of people queuing up for tickets and I just hope the lads have some spare ones I can have. My parents came to Lord's to watch me play live for the first time in a long time and they will be there again. It will be extra special for them, too."