Best returns to action for Barbados

West Indies have received a boost ahead of their vital home series against South Africa, which gets underway at the end of the month, with the news that Tino Best in on his way back from injury.

Best's exuberant personality and impressive pace earned him recognition as one of West Indies' brightest young prospects, was forced home early from their tour of England last summer, after pulling up with a back strain during the first Test at Lord's.

Initially it had been hoped he would return in time for Champions Trophy later in the year, which West Indies won, thrillingly, by two wickets in the semi-darkness at The Oval. But the problem proved more serious and he was forced to remodel his action, with the help of Wendell Coppin, a former Young Barbados and Young West Indies fast bowler, who is also the personal coach of Best's Barbados and West Indies team-mate, Fidel Edwards.

And now Best is back, with no reported loss of pace. He has been recalled to the Barbados squad in place of the emerging paceman Jason Bennett, ahead of the ninth round of the Carib Beer Series, in which they take on the leaders, Jamaica, in Kingston. Barbados certainly need Best's services, as they are bottom of the six-team table. Barbados are further boosted by the return of Ian Bradshaw, the hero of the Champions Trophy, who has been on leave since the end of the VB Series.