Fast bowler Jerome Taylor says while his ultimate goal remains making a return to the West Indies team, his immediate objective is to be a part of Jamaica's teams for upcoming West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) tournaments.
The speedster, who is recovering from a back injury, is one of 44 players currently in training for Jamaica ahead of next month's Regional Super50 and next February's Regional Four-Day tournaments.
"The main aim is to make a return to West Indies duties," said Taylor. "However, I am not looking that far at the moment.
"My focus right now is on putting in the work and bowling well and, hopefully, this will allow me to make the two Jamaican teams."
Taylor, who last represented West Indies in 2010, and Jamaica in 2011, is seeking to make a comeback from injury after at least two failed attempts. His last attempt saw him representing Jamaica in four-day action in March 2011.
However, later that year, in October, he was not considered fit and ready by the national coaching staff, who opted not to play him in the Regional Super50 tournament in Guyana.
The 29-year-old, however, explains that since then he has been working virtually overtime and believes he is close to where he wants to be.
A LOT TO OFFER
"The frame of mind remains the same. I am still passionate about the game, and believe I have a lot to offer to Jamaica and West Indies," he outlined.
"I am, therefore, looking forward to the challenge of proving my fitness and readiness again."
Taylor, whose last competitive international match was in the Bangladesh Premier League last August, also explained what his recovery efforts have been like to date.
"Coming from injury, you are going to still feel a little niggle here and there. However, I believe I am about 85 per cent where I need to be," he said.
"I have done various scans and tests and, to date, they have all come up positive.
"What the tests have been revealing is that I have muscle spasms, and this is being rectified with acupuncture and other therapies."
Having made his West Indies debut at 18-years, Taylor also gave insight as to what may be the reason for his injury.
"Originally it was a back strain, and the thought at the time was my body was not adapting well to the workload I was receiving," he outlined.
"Since then, however, as a part of the rehabilitation process, I have been working on areas such as muscle strengthening and muscle memory."
Taylor has taken 82 wickets in 29 Test matches at an average of 35.65, and 98 in 66 one-day internationals at 26.82.
The 2014 regional Super50, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago, is set to bowl off on January 30.
Source:
jamaica-gleaner.com
