“I’m ready to go. I’m feeling a lot fitter and stronger”
CARDIFF, Wales, CMC- Pacer Ravi Rampaul says he plans to make an impact when he returns to the West Indies team for the Champions Trophy which begins next week.
The 28-year-old bowler last played for the Windies in December when the team was in Bangladesh before he was sidelined by an injury.
Rampaul, who was impressive for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the just ended Indian Premier League, says he is in top form for the tournament.
“I have not played for West Indies for a couple months now, so I want to come back and get the ball rolling and get some wickets and some good performances,” said Rampaul.
“I’m ready to go. I’m feeling a lot fitter and stronger. I managed to lose some weight, so I’m ready and confident.”
Rampaul was speaking as the Windies continued their preparations for the Champions Trophy.
The Windies assembled in Cardiff, Wales, earlier this week and have been training at the Swalec Stadium.
“My aim is to help West Indies win this Champions Trophy,” said Rampaul who returned to competitive cricket for Trinidad & Tobago in the Regional 4-Day and Super50 tournaments earlier this year.
“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.”
The Caribbean boys play their first warm-up match on Saturday at the Swalec Stadium.
They then travel to Birmingham for the second warm-up against Sri Lanka next Tuesday at Edgbaston.
“I played a few times in England before and the ball does swing around and seam around,” said Rampaul.
“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.”
The Windies have been drawn in Group B alongside the Indians, Pakistanis and South Africans.
They open against Pakistan on Friday, June 7, at the Oval in London and return to the famous venue on Tuesday, June 11 to take on India.
