LANCASHIRE spin legend Gary Keedy has backed his former Old Trafford pal Simon Kerrigan to revive his England Test career.

Kerrigan suffered one of the most bruising debuts in recent Ashes history in the final Test match at The Oval fifteen months ago.

But Keedy, now spin bowling coach at Nottinghamshire and who lives in Pleasington, says Kerrigan can revive his England calling.

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“Three years ago Peter Moores, the England coach, said that Simon Kerrigan would play for England and he will again,” said Keedy.

“Peter Moores hasn’t forgotten about Simon – he can still be an England regular for a long time to come because he is a spin bowler of amazing ability.”

Kerrigan’s painful spell at The Oval cost 53 runs, with Australian opener Shane Watson targeting the Lancs spinner from his first delivery.

“People go on about that, but you can’t judge a guy from eight overs of international cricket,” added Keedy, who teamed up with Kerrigan when Lancs lifted their first outright Championship victory for 77 years in 2011.

“It wasn’t his best day, but that can happen to anybody.

“Simon is a quality player, and, crucially, he has time on his side.

“He’s probably got ten or fifteen years ahead of him in first-class cricket, he’s only 25.

“I didn’t really find my game until I was 36.

‘Simon’s a tough cookie, and he will bounce back.”

Despite Lancashire suffering relegation last term, Kerrigan outperformed every bowler apart from Chorley all-rounder Tom Smith, who collected 54 wickets, ten more than Kerrigan’s eventual final Championship haul.

Keedy, who looks set to continue in the first class game at Trent Bridge next season, added: “It seems amazing, with the ups and downs of my career, that I was in my mid-thirties before I said, ‘Yeah. I know what I’m doing now. I’m on top of my game.’ “Hopefully, Simon will get there a lot sooner than that.

“But even now, and I’m 40 this month, I still feel capable of arguably playing my best cricket.”

Meanwhile, Keedy, who was Lancashire’s leading wicket taker for three seasons during an eighteen-year spell at Old Trafford, has launched his own spin bowling school.

“It is my job to go out and identify the best young spinners and give them some proper direction, not just about the technique of bowling, but the mental and psychological aspect of it too,” added Keedy, who will be presenting the junior awards at Lowerhouse Cricket Club on November 21.

“We should treat it is a science, not an art.

“Spin bowling is a taught knowledge, and once you understand the science, then you can master it is an art.

“There’s not a dearth of spin talent – far from it – it is how they are utilized.

“We need to develop young spinners who want to toss the ball up and spin it.”

Keedy added: “I’ve had enquiries from Argentina, Italy, Ireland and Accrington, the response has been amazing.”

For further info. Gary Keedy Spin Science Coaching. Contact coaching@spinscience.co.uk or 0800 084 2303