PORT-OF-SPAIN, March 17: Dwayne Bravo has been cleared to play for the West Indies in the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting on Saturday in Guyana.

Bravo was sidelined with a discomfort in his back for the sixth round of matches in the West Indies first-class championship, when his native Trinidad and Tobago faced the Combined Campuses and Colleges.

“I felt a little soreness in the lower back last week and missed the match to get some rest and allow for the stiffness to go away,” he said.

Bravo is looking forward to series, and noted it was important for the West Indies to make a strong start to the series in Guyana.

He expects Sri Lanka to offer a stiff challenge, especially their off-spin bowling legend Muttiah Muralitharan.

“Sri Lanka is a very good team and they are coming here with the intention of winning,” he expressed.

“We know it will be a challenging series, but personally I’m up to it and will be giving off my best for the West Indies team.

The first Test bowls off on March 22 at the National Stadium in Guyana, while the second will be from April 3 to 7 at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.

—AFP