Gidman took over the Gloucestershire captaincy at the start of last season

Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman says his ankle operation has been a success and he is optimistic about his chances of bowling in the 2010 season.

The 26-year-old all-rounder underwent surgery two weeks ago unsure of whether he would ever be able to bowl again.

"The surgeon is very happy with what he found and what he did," Gidman told BBC Radio Bristol.

"The early signs are that it went OK and I'm pretty hopeful it will have the desired result."

Gidman continued: "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. Alex Gidman

"I go back to see the specialist in January and hopefully get the go-ahead to start running again, so there should be no question that everything will be in place for April."

"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. "

Gidman has taken 87 first-class wickets with his right-arm medium seamers in his eight summers at Nevil Road, as well as 57 one-day scalps and seven as an occasional Twenty20 Cup bowler.

And it is in the one-day arena that he feels he can make more of a contribution as a bowler.

"It would be nice to bowl pain-free again and play a bigger part in the games that we play," he said.

"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."

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