Gloucestershire skipper Gidman could be forced to quit bowling duties

Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman could be forced to quit bowling if an operation to cure his troublesome ankle is not successful.

The former England A all-rounder enters hospital on Tuesday to undergo surgery to correct a problem which has dogged him for the last two years.

And if the make-or-break operation fails to remedy his condition, he will almost certainly have to give up bowling and continue as a batsman only from next season onwards.

Gidman said: "This is not the first time my ankle has been operated on, but it will definitely be the last.

"I cannot keep having surgery and, if this operation doesn't do the trick, then that's it.

"It will probably mean me carrying on as a batsman and not being able to bowl anymore. This is something I've battled with for a few years now and this is the last chance to put it right.

"All I can do is keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best."

The pressure created by bowling has caused Gidman's ankle to become misshapen and the 28-year-old was forced to wear a supportive brace throughout the 2009 season.

He said: "My ankle has formed the wrong way and needs to be corrected. It's a case of them opening me up and shaving down the bone to make bowling more comfortable.

"I guess the ankle has had quite a bit of wear and tear down the years and this is my body telling me something is wrong."

Gidman first encountered serious difficulties two years ago and, as a consequence, missed several weeks of the 2008 county campaign. When he returned to action in August, it was as a batsman only.

When the problem failed to clear up this year, he was forced to limit the number of overs sent down and manage his condition carefully.

Considered a genuine all-rounder when he made his Gloucestershire CCC debut in 2002, Gidman emerged as one of the domestic game's brightest prospects. He subsequently toured twice with the England A team and was widely tipped for one-day international honours.

But the injuries which have so restricted his bowling have also prevented him from pushing his international claims in recent times.

He conceded: "This operation will determine the rest of my career.

"I still want to bowl, because that has always been a part of my game. But if my body keeps telling me not to go on, then I'll just have to focus on scoring runs and leading Gloucestershire."

Gidman hardly bowled at all last season, but made amends with the bat, finishing as Gloucestershire CCC's leading scorer with 1,028 first-class runs.