James Kirtley could be forgiven for looking at the world with a slightly jaundiced eye after what he has gone through in the last six months.

The pace bowler was rewarded after a superb season with Sussex with an England call-up to Zimbabwe in October, only to have the rug pulled out from under his feet.

He was reported for "throwing" during the one-day series and had to spend the winter remodelling his action, with his World Cup ambitions seemingly in tatters.

But the 27-year-old refused to let his problems get him down, and is approaching the forthcoming season with optimism mixed with shrewd caution.

"I looked for the silver lining as I was remodelling my action. I saw it as an opportunity to really analyse my action and identify small changes to improve it," he said.

"The result is that I seem to have gained more bounce and the speed tests seem to be faster.

"But I'm not making any huge statements that I will be bowling better than last year because I haven't yet bowled at a competitive level with my new action.

"I had to positive about the situation because I still had a role to play at Sussex as vice-captain and leading the bowling attack.

Kirtley insists that, although he is wiser, he is not bitter about the events of the winter.

But he has reavaluated his outlook to allow himself to roll with the blows that the game can sometimes throw at players.

"My way of approaching the game has changed in the last four years through experience," he said.

"I no longer set myself long-term targets, but look at each game as it comes.

"I set myself short term goals and don't get too wrapped up in thoughts such as: 'another 50 wickets and I might get into the England side'.

"Of course I still want to play for England especially with the World Cup around the corner. But I have come to realise there are some things I can't control.

"I can't get away from the fact that I have to continue to perform for Sussex if I want the England selectors to look at me."