by Craig Tucker

Kent seamer Ashley Shaw flew out to Australia on Sunday looking to put his two-year injury nightmare behind him.

The left-armer, 21, will spend two months playing club cricket for Melbourne side Mulgrave.

He’s on the comeback trail after recovering from a long-term shin-splints injury that required three operations.

Shaw (pictured), who missed the whole of Kent’s 2012 campaign, said: "The fitness work has gone well since the last operation in August.

"I wanted to go to Australia anyway but where I haven’t played for such a long time, it will be good to go out there and get some bowling done so I can hit the ground running when we start pre-season training at Kent and hopefully get a chance in the team.

"I’ll be training three or four times week with a game every Saturday so it’ll be quite intense."

Shaw took 5-118 on his County Championship debut for Kent against Derbyshire in 2011 but was soon plagued by shin-splints in both legs.

He added: "You feel like you’re letting everyone down when you’re out injured – the coaches, the players and all the staff – but they’ve all stood by me. It’s been a frustrating time.

"But I can feel the difference after the operations and I know my body is up to playing cricket."

Do you think Shaw can earn a place in the Kent side next season? Have your say below.