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By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport Online
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Fast bowler Alex Tudor was shocked and disappointed when he discovered he had missed out on selection for England's World Cup squad.
In an exclusive interview for BBC Sport Online, Tudor said that having played in the tri-series final last summer in England, he thought he was in the forefront of the selectors minds.
Tudor has his sights on an England comeback in the summer
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The 25-year-old Surrey paceman said: "Not to get selected in the squad was a shock and a disappointment.
"But you get over these things and you can either take it in a negative way or a positive way.
"I have a lot of people around me who pick me up and I'm back here now. I'll start training next week to try to improve all aspects of my game."
One of the most crushing images of England's woeful performance in Australia over the winter was the sight of Tudor being smashed on the helmet by a Brett Lee bouncer.
It was towards the end of the third day of the Perth Test and England were on the verge of a crushing innings victory.
The match was the only Ashes Test Tudor played - after being brought into the squad to replace Darren Gough - and for an instant he was extremely worried.
"Brett Lee bowled a very, very quick spell and I got hit. I didn't know the extent of what I had done," said Tudor.
Lee's bouncer strikes Tudor's helmet in the Perth Test
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"It hit me very very hard. I got my gloves to my eye and I saw a lot of blood and I was like 'What have I done here?'
"Luckily Alec Stewart was out there with me to calm me down a bit - I was a bit frantic - and after a couple of minutes a doctor came out, sorted me, and gave me six stitches.
"It sort of put me back a couple of weeks but I've got over that now."
Tudor acknowledges that England are not in the best of shape going into the World Cup.
But he says nothing is out of range for them and is full of praise for two youngsters who have been performing well in Australia.
Ian Blackwell may not have performed much with the bat, but at times his bowling has been more than useful.
Of him, Tudor says: "I think he can play a huge part in Test cricket, particularly the way he scores his runs.
"If you have 10 or 12 overs of Ian, he's going to score his runs very quickly."
The other young player to have caught the eye is James Anderson.
Tudor is similarly impressed, noting how he was able to bowl 10 overs on the trot in the searing heat of Adelaide, conceding just 10 runs.
"It's a great tribute to the guy. He's a fit lad and long may it continue."
Tudor was in south London to help publicise the Southwark After School Cricket Project.
The scheme provides coaching at all levels for children at schools where there is no other cricket available.
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