Hampshire seamer Ryan Stevenson has returned to bowling for the first following an injury suffered at the start of last season.

After spending significant time rehabilitating this winter, he has his sights set on a return to begin the 2017 campaign.

The right-armer, who joined the club in 2015 after performing well at minor counties level, was restricted to just one T20 and three 50-over fixtures in 2016 as a result of a stress fracture at the base of his back.

However with the 2017 season just around the corner, Stevenson feels his recovery and training are going well and is excited about what the coming year could bring with his pre-season preparations now building.

“I’ve just started bowling again this week and that’s gone well so I’m feeling good and feeling strong. I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym since the injury, building up that strength and making sure that all the parts of me are as they should be.

“I feel like I’ve got plenty of momentum going in my rehab at the minute and it’s progressing nicely so hopefully I’ll be bowling at my full capacity again by the end of February.

“I’m just trying to make the most of the opportunity that I’ve got this year - it’s a big year but I’m looking forward to getting back on the field enjoying it as much as I can because that’s when I play my best cricket. Hopefully that’ll lead to more time and success here, but first and foremost I’m looking forward to this season.”

Having joined the club in 2015 after being spotted representing Devon at minor counties level, Stevenson’s relatively short time in the first-class game has already seen him experience great moments of elation on the field.

The paceman made his debut in Hampshire’s impressive away County Championship win over Durham that season, before then contributing to Hampshire’s ‘great escape’ in the club’s final fixture of the season against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Despite being unable to make as much impact as he would have liked the following year, the 23-year-old still enjoys looking back at those first experiences of the game at first-class level.

“I was so unaware of what to expect, having come from nowhere, and all of a sudden I went from playing minor counties to playing this level of cricket. I just came in, tried my best and it ended up being a really exciting end to the season - I came away in October and I sat back and thought, how have I got here!

“Obviously it was great to come in, do well and be able to help the team retain their status in the first division. I think that then made it even more frustrating the next year to not be able to contribute and end up watching the most cricket I’ve ever watched in my life.

“Lots of people have been through the same thing though so I’ve received lots of good advice – it’s been tough but hopefully this year will be a lot better.”

Despite suffering a frustrating last 12 months, Stevenson is hopeful that he can begin well during his 2017 pre-season programme, starting with Hampshire’s tour of Barbados this March.

All bowlers will fly out to Barbados on Thursday, March 9 where they will take part in a specialist training camp, with the squad then returning to the UK on Thursday, March 23.

“I’m going to be bowling properly by the end of February – although there’ll be restrictions on my overs from there – but if you perform well in Barbados then that gives you a great opportunity to get in the side and that should bring the best of out of everyone, including myself.

“This rehab feels like it’s going a lot better than the last time – I can really feel the improvements and my improved strength.

"I’ve been doing gym work three or four times a week really trying to strengthen my back and the muscles surrounding it and then a lot of running too so hopefully I can start well.

“2017 was pretty frustrating but it’s made me want to spend as much time on the field as possible this year – you’ll have to drag me off the pitch this year!”