PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler Shannon Gabriel says he is fit and ready for a recall to the regional side after being sidelined from an injury he picked up during his debut Test against England in May.
“I am fit and ready,” Gabriel told reporters on his weekend return from South Africa with some members of the T&T team knocked out of the Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) in the qualifying stage last week.
“I have improved; I have been doing some work in the nets with the technical aspects of my game so I am looking to improve further”.
Gabriel had an impressive debut in Test cricket, taking three for 60 in the first innings against England at Lord’s, dismissing Ian Bell, Matt Prior and Graeme Swann.
In the second innings, he bowled only five overs, during which he removed Kevin Pietersen.
However, subsequent scans showed a stress reaction in the lower spine, ruling him out of the remainder of the tour.
Gabriel also missed the New Zealand series in the West Indies and was targeting a return to the regional side for the upcoming series in Bangladesh next month.
He has been training with the T&T team for the last few months in preparation for the CLT20 and picked up a wicket with his first ball against Uva before rain ended the match early.
“It was a good feeling playing my first game in the Champions League, although we were knocked out in the qualifying stage of the tournament,” said Gabriel.
“It was a bit disappointing that we had to come back home so early but that is how cricket goes sometimes. Hopefully we can learn from this and next time put up a better performance”.
