The Best is yet to come?

He was wearing a basketball top, a baseball cap and a bit of bling. The face looked familiar, but not instantly recognisable. Then someone shouted over “Tino.”

When England toured West Indies in 2004 they faced a quick bowler who was determined to make a name for himself. Tino Best didn’t do things by half and on removing Graham Thorpe, at Sabina Park, for his first Test wicket he sprinted towards the catcher a fine leg before lying, arms out-stretched, on the ground in celebration.

“Cricket should always be played that way, but also in the right spirit,” he said. “I remember some battles with Mr Flintoff and battles with Nasser [Hussain] and Thorpe. The best batsman I ever bowled at was Graham Thorpe. He’s a guy I rated really high from when I was a youngster so it was the best feeling ever to get him out.”

Mr Flintoff? Clearly there was plenty of respect there. "He’s a great entertainer," Best said. "Just look at the Test that has just finished [in Antigua], he had an injury and he had the determination that every cricketer should have."

However, while Best is remembered for making the England batsman hop around, many prefer to recall his performance with the bat in the following summer’s Test at Lord’s. With West Indies sliding to defeat in the second innings Best came out swinging, especially at Ashley Giles, but after middling a couple Flintoff, who was stood at slip, came out with the line: “Mind the windows, Tino.” Next ball, Best had a huge heave and was stumped. Flintoff didn’t even try to contain his laughter.

“I didn’t really hear him say anything,” Best said. “The thing was whenever I faced Ashley Giles in the Caribbean I used my feet to him and hit him over the top. They were chatting to me, but I couldn’t really understand what they were saying.

“I just played my shots, missed it and then heard them talking about windows. The guys in the dressing room said had I not heard it? It’s a big joke now and I just laugh it off.”

Best ended the England series in the Caribbean with 12 wickets at 25.08, but that Lord’s Test was his only outing in the return contest. He played just four more matches before being discarded by the selectors and has since thrown his lot in with the Indian Cricket League.

“It had a lot to do with the coaching, I was never comfortable with the set-up,” he said. “After I got injured they tried to change my action and that didn’t work. That is one of the most uncomfortable feelings, when you don’t like your action. It really hurt me.

“I was meant to go to New Zealand in 2006 and I turned up at the airport and there was no ticket for me. A lot of things like that disappointed me. But it has just made be get stronger. I’m only 27 and could come back."

Best retains hope that the ICL situation will be resolved, although the recent outcome (or lack of) at the meetings in Johannesburg suggests it won’t happen. But he still has ambitions of resuming his international career, and certainly doesn’t lack confidence in his own ability.

“I’m still the quickest bowler in the Caribbean. Ask any of the local commentators and they’ll say that. I have one of the best records for Barbados and I’m still the quickest without a doubt.

“I don’t want to disrespect Daren Powell, but he is looking a bit tired and that is my spot. It would be great to run in with Fidel [Edwards] again.”

For all his brashness, bullishness and bling a return to the top level is looking like a pipe dream. The best has probably been and gone.