IF Kabir Ali can apply himself this season as Zaheer Khan did last term, there is no reason why he cannot resurrect his international career - according to Worcestershire dir-ector of cricket Steve Rhodes.
Despite an injury-hit 2006 campaign, the Birmingham-born seamer picked up 40 first-class wickets at an average of just over 29 and Rhodes is confident Kabir has it in him to win an England recall.
However, Worcestershire are focusing on getting their paceman fully fit and available for an entire County season as Rhodes is expecting a big year from his opening bowler.
The former England wicketkeeper said: "Kabir is ready for a big season. He has worked hard at his fitness after having a slight niggle when he was in India over the winter, but we have nursed him through that in preparation for this summer.
"I've got him bowling off a short run and going through his mechanics. He is raring to go, but we are not going to push him too early because he is going to have a long season.
"I'm optimistic. If you look at last season's statistics for the overs he bowled, his wicket tally was very good and that was the same for Matt Mason too.
"If they had doubled their overs and bowled the same number that Zaheer did, both of them would have got 80 wickets - that says a lot.
"It is all about getting them to stay out on the park and I am very confident they will get wickets."
The New Road paceman's last England appearance was in a one-day international at Headingley on July 1 last year, but the game does not hold happy memories.
Despite posting an impressive 321-7 from their 50 overs, the hosts were beaten by eight wickets with 75 balls remaining by a rampant Sri Lanka.
Kabir came in for some harsh treatment at the hands of Sanath Jayasuria and Upul Tharanga, with his six wicket-less overs going for 72 runs.
Rhodes feels that Kabir can step up to international cricket once more - if he adopts the mentality Zaheer Khan did after being dropped from the Indian side.
He said: "As a player you've always got to have an eye to some extent on things above you, because that is what you aspire to. But sometimes, if you have too much of an eye on those things, you lose track of what you are meant to do. You need to go back to basics - that is what Zaheer did.
"He had an eye on getting back into the Indian team, but he recognised what he needed to do to get there and he did well for Worcestershire.
"If Kabir has the same train of thought, which I'm sure he has, putting in performances on the field will get him that recognition and you don't have to worry about that.
"I always say with international recognition, you never know when you are going to be picked. If you spend your time thinking you are going to get picked, it never happens.
"Kabir has just got to concentrate on the process of getting wickets for Worcester-shire."
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