CHRIS TREMLETT can be the next 'Gus Fraser - that's the view of England Academy director Rod Marsh, who spent the winter coaching Tremlett, Derek Kenway and 15 other England prospects in Australia.

Hampshire fans have the chance to judge Marsh's appraisal of Tremlett for themselves today when Fraser, 36, ends his distinguished career at The Rose Bowl in the final round of Benson and Hedges Cup Southern group games.

Middlesex stalwart Fraser took 177 wickets for Eng-land at 27 runs apiece during a 46-match Test career that began in 1989.

And 20-year-old Tremlett, an inch taller than 6ft 6in Fraser, can be as effective according to the man who played 86 Tests for Austra-lia.

Marsh said: "Chris reminds me so much of Angus Fraser - more than anyone else.

"His size is his biggest asset and that's what reminds me of Angus.

"Angus wasn't the quickest bowler but I don't take too much notice of how quickly bowlers can bowl, it's the end product I'm concerned with.

"You don't have to be the fastest bowler in the world to be successful and Chris can be a fine bowler because of the bounce that he gets."

Marsh and his coterie of coaches attempted to get Tremlett to brace his front leg in Australia after dec-iding that he was collapsing to his left.

"The fact that Chris is 6ft 7ins is going to help a lot when he is bowl-ing from his full height," added Marsh.

"His action im-proved in Australia but it's not something that comes easily.

"The good thing from his point of view is that he has got youth on his side - but he has got lots and lots of work to do before he is anywhere near ready to play for England.

"When his body stops growing, I think he will be a better player, because his biggest attribute is also one of his problems.

"The fact that he's so big means that he needs a hell of a lot of leg strength, so he has a lot more work to do there because they are supporting when he bowls.

"He also needs more core strength, so there is also work to be done on his abdominals, but he is a nice piece of raw material to work with."

Fraser himself rates Tremlett. In his last appearance in The Cricketer's Who's Who, he names Tremlett, along with Warwickshire tyro Ian Bell, as one of the game's young players to look out for.

But Marsh added: "I don't like making predictions, especially about bowlers, because a lot can happen and there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before Chris plays for England.

"But, if and when he does ,he can play as a bowling all-rounder, provided he works on his batting as well."