Veteran West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo could be given an immediate return to international action today when the team faces off against Ireland in the first Sandals Resorts T20 at the National Stadium in Grenada from 1 pm.
After a three and a half year hiatus, Bravo was recalled to the team after recently announcing he would make himself available for selection again when close friend Keiron Pollard was named captain of the team.
And with the selectors keen to get an early look at him ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup later this year, it is expected Bravo could get the nod today as it is only a three-match series.
Questions have been raised about whether Bravo will be match fit, having not played international cricket since undergoing surgery on his hand last September and missing the entire Caribbean Premier League. But Bravo, 36, has shrugged off the suggestion he will not be ready to go.
“The good thing about me at this stage of my career is that yes, a lot of cricket is important, but for me, because of the experience I’ve gained over the years, I’m more concerned about my health, my fitness,” Bravo told i95FM after the squad was announced over the weekend.
“So I spend most time working on my fitness. I do a lot of gym work. Obviously, I had the broken finger where I still do therapy for my finger just to keep getting it stronger.
“Over the years I know that despite not playing much cricket, I can still go there and compete and contribute in a very good way.”
He said he was also looking forward to playing alongside Pollard and the other players, noting he has developed a very good relationship with most of them.
“Pollard is my best friend, so definitely [with] all my experience, we both collectively can actually work together. It’s just about how we can contribute and make things better for the younger players and also for the West Indies team,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m happy that he is the captain. As most people would say, it’s a bit late but for me, nothing happens before its time and I think now is the right time, as I said to him when he was offered the captaincy.”
Having swept Ireland 3-0 in the ODI series, Pollard’s men will be looking for another strong showing and going all out for a clean sweep of the entire series against the visitors.
WI SQUAD: Kieron Pollard (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Lendl Simmons, Hayden Walsh Jr., Kesrick Williams.