West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul hasn't played international cricket since December and is eager to get back into the swing of things ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
He was sidelined by injury over the winter but returned to competitive cricket for Trinidad and Tobago and then helped Royal Challengers Bangalore finish fifth in the Indian Premier League 2013.
Now, he says he wants to "get the ball rolling" and help his side bid to repeat their Champions Trophy success of 2004.
"I always want to perform for West Indies and I always want to perform for my country," he said.
"I played a few times in England before and the ball does swing around and seam around," he said.
"Once you stick to the basics and get the ball in the right areas, it will do something, so the key to bowling here is to be consistent and the ball will do the work for you. You don’t have to try too many things, the ball will do something for you – just get it in the right areas.
"We have a good bowling attack and a lot of variety as well with different types of actions and at different speeds," he added.
"One of the key factors would be to bowl in partnerships. Tino brings energy into the bowling attack and into the team. Everyone is geed up when he is around. He gives you that extra effort and enthusiasm. We need somebody like Tino (Best) in our team to help us bowl teams out.
"My aim is to help West Indies win this Champions Trophy. We did a great job when we won the World Twenty20 last year in Sri Lanka and the spirit of victory and the awesome feeling of winning is still alive in the squad."
[quote author=The Chairman link=topic=80720.msg503091#msg503091 date=1370011890]
"My aim is to help West Indies win this Champions Trophy. We did a great job when we won the World Twenty20 last year in Sri Lanka and the spirit of victory and the awesome feeling of winning is still alive in the squad."
[/quote]
That's the spirit Ravi! I do think he'd be a handful in English conditions. He's one of the players who's improved massively from the first time I saw him.
Are they gonna play Best ahead of Holder though? Haven't seen enough of Holder, but thought he was reasonably impressive the last time I saw him.
[quote author=Kyle link=topic=80720.msg503105#msg503105 date=1370014609]
That's the spirit Ravi! I do think he'd be a handful in English conditions. He's one of the players who's improved massively from the first time I saw him.
Are they gonna play Best ahead of Holder though? Haven't seen enough of Holder, but thought he was reasonably impressive the last time I saw him.
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Ravi did play in the 2 ODIs last year.
In the first he was quite expensive conceding 68 runs from 10 overs but he did get Cook for 0.
In the second he was very economical conceding 29 runs from his 7 overs.
I think the WI will have Best down as first choice but if I remember right he was quite ineffective in the one game he played.
