GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Grenadian opening batsman Devon Smith is determined to regain a spot in the West Indies cricket team and his important double-century for the Windward Islands this past weekend has boosted his claims.

Smith smashed 212 and spurred the Windwards to an innings and 147-run victory over Guyana inside three days at Grenada's National Stadium, as the 2009 WICB regional four-day tournament started.

The 27-year-old left-hander stroked 22 fours and three sixes in a commanding knock and declared in a Kaieteur News story that he is making a big effort to return to the West Indies unit for the home series against England starting next month.

"I am working hard to do well enough this season to get back into the West Indies team for the upcoming series against England," Smith told Kaieteur Sports. "I have had two months of really hard preparation, doing a lot of running and batting and I feel I am now much more mature and confident as a batsman."

Smith, who has not played for West Indies since the second Test against Australia in May last year, told the newspaper he is preparing himself to make the mental adjustments necessary to succeed if he gets another shot at the highest level.

"I don't think I have made the best of my opportunities at the Test level because I think I put myself under pressure to always perform to keep my place in the team and maybe tried too hard.

Mental side

"I now realise how important the mental side of cricket is and I am now more relaxed and enjoying my cricket. Once you do the basics, concentrate, have patience and pick your shots you should make lots of runs. As you get older I think you learn these things," Smith said.

Smith has played 24 Tests and 26 one-day international matches for West Indies.

He has 1,045 Test runs with one century for an average 24.30 and in ODIs, he has 512 runs at an average of 23.27.

England arrive in the Caribbean in late January and play West Indies in the first Test starting February 4 at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.