Barath admits his batting needs improvement

Adrian Barath, the West Indies batsman, has said that he would've liked to have played more domestic games before returning to international cricket after a long lay-off. Barath injured his hamstring during a World Cup 2011 warm-up match in February and played his first international game in more than four months against India in Kingston in June.

"That would have been the best scenario (but) the medical team and selectors saw it fit in the best time to get me back," Barath told the Trinidad-based Newsday. "It's important that there are no niggles. I played the Trindiad & Tobago Twenty20 Festival but you really can't compare that to international cricket."

Barath had one half-century in the three Tests against India, but looked rusty and struggled to convert his starts, often getting out edging to the slip cordon after shuffling too far across. "I just followed the ball," he said. "It's something I have to work on. Missing cricket has a part to play as well in terms of hand-eye coordination, footwork and just being tentative outside off-stump. I never had this problem before."

Barath is now concentrating on his preparations for the Champions League Twenty20 qualifiers, to be played in Hyderabad, India in September. Trinidad are the defending West Indies regional T20 champions and will play five other sides for three spots in the main tournament.

"It's obviously something we didn't expect (having to qualify) but whatever is thrown at you in life you have to find a way to deal with. The boys are up to these challenges that we are going to face," he said. "I think we have the ability to even win the tournament. We need to play as a team and we have quality players."

Having played for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2010, Barath said that he was not averse to another IPL contract but his loyalties were with West Indies and Trinidad. "My performances are towards T&T winning the Champions League. I would like to contribute towards that goal. If the opportunity arises that I can get an IPL contract then no problem. Once it doesn't coincide with international cricket (I will play). I have to be faithful to West Indies cricket."