Bravo: I'm back!

'If I wasn't fit enough to bowl, I wouldn't have made myself available for selection' - Dwayne Bravo © Getty Images

Dwayne Bravo, reduced to a mere batsman over the last two months, is set to resume his important two-dimensional role here over the weekend.

Unable to bowl since sustaining a left side injury in a Twenty20 match in New Zealand on February 16, Bravo came through a lengthy bowling exercise in the nets yesterday and declared himself fit to wheel his arm over for back-to-back one-day internationals against Zimbabwe at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

In 45 minutes of non-stop action at the Jolly Beach Cricket Ground, Bravo showed very little discomfort. "From the couple overs I had here, I think my sharpness is still there," he said. "Even the coach and the guys said I still have my nippiness and my arm speed is still there. It is all about getting my control and my consistency."

Since sustaining the injury, Bravo played exclusively as a batsman in the last two one-dayers and the entire three-match Test series in New Zealand, along with the semifinals and final of the Carib Beer Challenge on his return to the Caribbean. In the aftermath of the injury, his first taste of bowling was a few weeks ago with light work and not fully extending himself.

"I've been doing some bowling back home in the nets, but not from the long-run. Coming out and bowling from the long run today [yesterday], I feel good," Bravo said. "I have no soreness. It is a matter of getting my confidence back. If I wasn't fit enough to bowl, I wouldn't have made myself available for selection.

"After New Zealand, I took two weeks off then started bowling lightly in nets. There was a possibility that I could have bowled in the [Carib] final, but I didn't want to risk it at that point in time. Now is the right time to go out, start bowling again and get my momentum and rhythm going."

Bravo was speaking after an upbeat practice session, the first since Brian Lara was appointed West Indies captain for a third time. It is well-known that Bravo has been a long-time admirer of Lara and the youngster is happy with the appointment.

"He is one of my mentors. I think Brian at this point in time is the best person for the job with his experience and his knowledge of the game," Bravo said. "I'm not saying that the other guys available are not capable of doing the job, but, at this point, Brian is the right person with the World Cup so close. This team needs someone to lead them. It is a very young team and I think with Brian's experience and knowledge of the game we'll get in the right track." West Indies practised with only nine of the 13 that were named on Wednesday. For reasons which were not altogether explained, former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, along with the Jamaican trio of Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Jerome Taylor, were expected to arrive in St John's yesterday evening.

As Lara and his men went through their drills, their opponents, who are also staying at Jolly Beach, took the chance to watch them for a brief period.