Seven months ago everything was going to plan for Northamptonshire's batting sensation David Sales.

After a successful domestic season, the 23-year-old batsman was in the West Indies, a key man on the England A tour to the Caribbean.

Many believed Sales was on the verge of a full international call-up.

As an aggressive, middle-order batsman in the Mike Gatting mould, he offered exactly the kind of qualities that England so desperately needed.

Hammer blow

But then disaster struck. While playing volleyball on a Grenada beach he fell awkwardly shredding his cruciate ligament, and putting his career in grave doubt.

He was flown home without hitting a ball in anger, and immediately underwent an operation to reconstruct his injured knee.

Sales was told he would be out of action for nine months, thereby missing the entire 2001 campaign.

It was a hammer blow to an ambitious young player who had set his sights on promotion to the senior England squad for this summer's Ashes series.

"It has been the biggest setback of my career," he said.

He then became the youngest Englishman to score a first-class triple hundred against Essex at the County Ground in 1999 at the age of just 21.

That season he also became the youngest batsman to score 1,000 runs in a season.

Sales has found it hard having to sit on the sidelines with his A-tour team mates Ian Ward and Usman Afzaal progressing to make their debuts for the England Test team this summer.

But he has not giving up the dream of following in their footsteps.

"Of course it could have been me, but I've just had to deal with it," he said.

"Yes, had things gone well I may be playing for England now. But if I keep going where I left off hopefully I'll get my chance.

"I'd be very disappointed if I have been forgotten by the selectors.

Upbeat

"But I'm going to back my ability and believe that I'm good enough to make it for England.

"People like Atherton and Stewart are coming towards the end of their careers and the selectors are going to have to look for younger batsmen to replace them.

"I just hope I get a chance."

Sales is remarkably upbeat given the terrible timing and nature of his injury.

He has worked hard to get fit again, and now appears determined to remind the national selectors of his talent.

Given the dismal efforts of England's batsmen this summer, his rehabilitation cannot come soon enough.