Bravo targets return in February

Dwayne Bravo is targeting a return to competitive cricket by February next year after spending six months out of the game nursing an ankle injury. Bravo said he would start by playing for his club, Queen's Park, and then graduate to Trinidad before considering a comeback to the West Indies side.

"It's very hard for me not being able to play for the last six months," Bravo told the Trinidad Express. "I'm close to getting back to actually playing. I have an appointment on January 9 with Dr Terry Ali and the doctor will advise me whether I can start bowling in the nets and running. As for now, it's just strengthening my ankle, getting treatment and preparing myself for the season." West Indies are scheduled to play four Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 against England at home between February and April 2009.

Bravo underwent ankle surgery in New York in August after having carried the injury for two years. Bravo said the ankle felt good and the pain had subsided.

Bravo got a chance to review his career during the time spent away from the game and he said he would try to be more consistent and avoid repeating his mistakes. "I'm already speaking to Desmond Haynes and Brian Lara [and] I also got the opportunity to speak to Sachin [Tendulkar] in Mumbai," Bravo said. "Desmond Haynes offered his services to actually come and work with me. So as soon as I get better, that's something in the making. He was one of my favourite players. It's a privilege to actually get an opportunity to work with him."

He said talking to Tendulkar while playing for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL had also been a good experience. "Basically it's all about how to pace yourself during an innings and what you do to carry on."

Bravo, who is following West Indies' performance on their current tour of New Zealand, said the visitors had the edge in terms of experience. "It's a young team that went down there. I didn't think New Zealand was going to win the series, the teams were evenly balanced." The two-Test series was drawn 0-0 before the two teams tied the first Twenty20 match on Friday.