Shillingford cleared for international return

Shane Shillingford, the West Indies offspinner, has been cleared to return to international cricket after remedial work on his bowling action but will not bowl his doosra which remains illegal.

Shillingford was suspended in December, during the tour of New Zealand, following tests in Perth which showed both his doosra and conventional offspinner breached the 15-degree limit laid down by ICC. He had been reported during the second Test against India, in Mumbai, and it was the second time he had been suspended due to an illegal action.

Subsequent testing on March 4, again at the University of Western Australia in Perth, showed that his offspinner and straighter ball were now within the regulations.

Shillingford made his first-class comeback for Windward Islands against Jamaica this week and claimed 11 wickets in the match.

The results of the initial tests in late November came out during the Test series against New Zealand and Shillingford then returned to the Caribbean. Since then he has been working in Barbados alongside Vasbert Drakes, the former West Indies pace bowler, to find a solution to his problems and is now confident he as overcome the problem.

"Obviously, I am extremely happy that I will be playing this weekend," Shillingford said. "I have put in a lot of hard work over the past few months. It was a bit tough at first, but once the coaches told me what I had to do, I went straight to work. I just had to be really patient and I worked really hard."

"I am happy for the advice that I have received from the coaches, especially Vasbert, and I must also thank everyone for the support they have given me during this period."

Richard Pybus, West Indies' director of cricket, said: "It's great to have Shane playing first-class cricket again and I'm sure Windwards are delighted to have him back."

West Indies' next Test cricket will come in June when New Zealand visit for a three-match series