GARETH Andrew insists he is “100 per cent fit and ready to crack on” as he steps up his preparations for the new season during the County’s pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi.

The Worcestershire all-rounder flew out with his teammates for the 11-day trip in the Middle East after two months of gradually building up his bowling programme.

Andrew was only able to play as a batsman after the opening four LV= County Championship matches of last season because of a fractured lumbar pedicle in his back.

He said: “I’ve been bowling since January. Everything is flowing along nicely, there haven’t been any setbacks and hopefully I’m ready to go for the first game of the season.

“I’ve been building up to bowling 20 overs a week. That is just indoors.

“We’ve been monitoring that but I’m up with the rest of the bowlers, so hopefully I’ll just carry on with that in pre-season.

“All the overs will be monitored for every bowler, not just myself, but I’ll carry on as normal. I’m just looking forward to the start of the season.”

Andrew picked up 20 wickets in the opening four matches of 2014, including a career-best 5-40 against Glamorgan at the Swalec Stadium, and he relished taking the new ball.

He added: “It’s been a tough period with not bowling but I actually feel ten times better now for it.

“This time last year, I still had a fracture in my back but carried on.

“Now there is a big difference between where I was last year and where I am this year. I’m 100 per cent fit and ready to crack on.”