SWINDON'S Jon Lewis is still enjoying his England experience despite a frustrating washed-out first day at Centurion yesterday.

With England not announcing their final starting XI until the last minute, Lewis was still waiting to hear whether he would make his Test debut in the final and decisive match against South Africa.

The 29-year-old Gloucestershire bowler, called up as cover at the start of the week, has been the most prolific English seamer in domestic first-class cricket over the past two seasons and his ability to swing the ball led to him jumping ahead of James Anderson in the pecking order.

The former Churchfields School pupil had been working hard on his game at the England academy in Loughborough prior to his call-up, and is just pleased to be involved in the senior team set-up.

He said: "It has been exciting so far, but I have just tried to relax in the dressing room and get to know the other lads a bit more."

Lewis has been on the periphery of the Test side for a few years.

However his chances of becoming the first Gloucestershire player to earn a cap since Jack Russell were dealt a setback when he incurred a stress fracture of his back after going on the England A tour of the Caribbean in 2000-01.

It was an injury which almost ended but ultimately shaped his cricketing career.

"It has probably taken me two or three years to get back into the swing of things," Lewis said.

"My game has really improved over the past couple of seasons.

"I am a bit more consistent and a bit more professional; when you have an injury as serious as that it opens your eyes to what else you could do instead, and I worked out I couldn't do much else other than run in and bowl.

"I got my head down and started working to be more of a professional cricketer rather than just 'playing cricket'."

He claimed 74 first-class victims in 2003 and a further 57 last summer, having spent the period in-between learning the art of reverse swing during a spell with Sydney grade club Randwick Petersham.

Other counties have been suitors in recent months, but he turned down a move to Warwickshire after his selection for England's 30-man provisional ICC Champions Trophy squad proved he could gain international recognition in Bristol.