If you think the life of an international sportsman is all fame, fast cars and women, then you may be right. But for James Kirtley the last two weeks hasn't quite worked out like that.

Picked in the England squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe, Ambi was thrilled at the prospect of the cap he had been dreaming of for several years.

His excitement was soon replaced by the disappointment of being left out of the starting eleven and his mood dampened still further with the realisation that he would have to jump into his car and hot foot it down to Horsham to join Sussex's game against Nottinghamshire. With him were his mother and wife who had been at Lord's ready to witness his debut.

Fame, fast cars and women? Well, in a sense I suppose yes. He received a lot of press coverage for his troubles, the BMW he drives is quite fast and there were two women in the car.

This week, however, the car has been replaced by a train. No sooner had he just failed to deny Surrey a win at The Oval, than he was seen packing his bags and traipsing off to the underground station for a long journey, first across London, and then across England up to Durham.

The cruellest twist might be yet to come for Ambi. If he is left out of England's eleven again, as the media seem to think he will be, then it's back on a train to rejoin us at Tunbridge Wells. He might be able to catch a plane this time, just to complete every mode of transport available in Britain.

No one deserves a chance to play Test cricket for England more than Ambi.

'No one deserves' is a much-overused line but in this case it is surely justified. His record tells the story of the most dangerous and consistent wicket-taking bowler in county cricket over the last five years.

Richard Johnson is a fine bowler too. There is no doubting he has all the tools a fast bowler needs - height, strength and a good action. But his fitness record over his career has been questionable and whether he could sustain his performance over a gruelling Test match series, when the pressure and exertion is doubled, is a moot point.

I have no doubt that Ambi, on the other hand, could. He has only had one serious injury in the last five years and that was last year when he broke his hand in a freakish accident in the nets.

All this may be academic, of course, if our man is picked to play at Chester-Le-Street after all. If not, though, he will be welcomed back to Tunbridge Wells with open arms. Sussex, after all, have a vital game to win.

After coming unstuck again at The Oval, albeit after a good solid all-round team performance that might have been too good for other teams, it will be crucial to drive home the advantage we gained in beating Kent last month. Nothing less than a comprehensive win will suffice this time.

The fast bowler from Eastbourne took nine wickets in that last game against Kent. If England won't have him we certainly will.