Sussex's new fast bowler Duncan Spencer is determined to make up for lost time.

The 34-year-old has been handed an unexpected opportunity to revive his county career 11 years after he last played domestic cricket in England.

He has been given a month-long trial and if he comes through his first runout this weekend he could be a surprise inclusion in Sussex's team to face Warwickshire in the Championship opener at Hove, starting next Wednesday.

Spencer flew in from Perth on Wednesday night and had a workout in the nets with his new team-mates. He will play in Sussex's final pre-season friendly, a three-day game against Cardiff UCCE which starts at Hove on Saturday (11am).

Although he has spent most of his life in Western Australia, Spencer was born in Nelson, Lancashire and has an English passport.

He had a brief but spectacular county career with Kent between 1993-94 when he established a reputation as a fiery fast bowler with genuine pace.

After his batting glove was split by a delivery from Spencer in a match at Canterbury in 1993, West Indian great Viv Richards declared that he was the quickest bowler he had ever faced.

But Spencer was plagued by stress fractures in his back which eventually required surgery. He was banned by the Australian Cricket Board for 18 months in 2001 when he tested positive for nandrolone, a substance he had used to ease his condition.

He has been pain-free for three years, however, and was recommended to the county by Murray Goodwin who has played against him in Perth's first grade competition. Spencer was leading wicket-taker for Melville this winter with 31 wickets.

Spencer said: "It's all come as a bit of a surprise but it's a fantastic opportunity.

"I decided a couple of years ago that I'd like to come back and play in England and luckily Sussex have given me a chance.

"I'm not the sort of bloke who dies wondering. If I want to give something a go then I do it. I'm going to enjoy the next month, play a bit of cricket and if if it doesn't go well then I've lost nothing."

Spencer admits he will still have to look after his back carefully, especially after swapping the 28 degrees heat of Perth for a chilly Sussex spring.

"I've played three seasons pain-free so I'm fine," he added. "I have to manage the back with strengthening exercises, stretching and good massage but I won't be holding back out on the field.

"My back problems have been well documented but it's just as hard having the mental confidence to do what you want to do knowing that your body is going to hold together but I feel great and knowing Murray will help my settling-in process."

Spencer's only other appearance at Hove was for Kent seconds in 1995.

"Not much has changed," he added. "I bowled up the hill and we came out of different changing rooms but the weather certainly isn't any warmer!"

Cricket manager Mark Robinson says Spencer is a definite contender for a place in the side which faces Warwickshire, especially as Rana Naved's absence creates a vacancy in the bowling attack.

He said: "He's definitely got a chance. We'll see what he can do but we wouldn't get him over here if we didn't think he could play in our side."