KINGSTON, CMC:
PROMISING TEENAGED Jamaican fast bowler Jerome Taylor is satisfied with his return to competitive cricket after a 10-week lay-off with a lower back strain.
The 19-year-old Taylor, who broke down on the first day of the opening Test between West Indies and Zimbabwe last November, has bowled reasonably in the third round Carib Beer Series match between Jamaica and Barbados at Sabina Park.
"Things went the way I expected them to go. I felt pretty well with the way I bowled," Taylor said in an interview with the Barbados Sunday Sun newspaper after the opening day of the match.
"I had some level of consistency, I feel pretty well with my performance."
Taylor took one wicket for 25 runs from nine overs in the first innings and also claimed an early second innings wicket late on the second day of the match on Saturday, but he concedes that he is not yet back to peak form.
"I am pain free and bowling with a nice pace. I will hopefully get stronger as the days go on.
"But I can say today compared to a week ago, I'm really happy with the way I feel now because the stiffness was more than it is today. I think it is progressing well."
Taylor burst onto the regional stage last year when he grabbed 21 wickets in six Carib Beer Series matches.
It included an innings haul of eight for 59 and his performances earned him two Tests against Sri Lanka in the Caribbean before he broke down after 9.4 overs in his first Test outside the region.
On his return from Zimbabwe, he spent a lot of time resting before moving to physiotherapy and bowling in the nets.
"At one point I thought it was going a bit slow, but you just have to hang in and wait until the damage has healed," Taylor said.
"I'm not at the fullest now, but I'm pleased with the way I'm bowling."
