PORT ELIZABETH, March 10: Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie is on target to be fit for the tour of the West Indies, according to team physiotherapist Errol Alcott.

Australia are set to leave for the Caribbean on 31 March. Gillespie was ruled out of the World Cup with a heel injury which is expected to take four weeks to heal.

Alcott told reporters on Sunday: “Jason saw the Australian Cricket Board’s doctor Trefor James on Friday and got the injury re-scanned.

“Trefor concurred with our original idea that it should take him four to six weeks to recover, perhaps a touch earlier.

“By the time we get to 31 March it will be five weeks since he did it... if he progresses as we think he should then he should come up trumps for the tour.”

Alcott added Gillespie’s injury could be related to an ongoing problem he has had since October 2002.

“He has had a problem for the past six months, he had a calf tear in Colombo and similar muscle soreness during the summer.

“He got through that but now it is a problem in the heel. There is a bio-mechanical thing going on that we have to address.”

The injury-plagued Gillespie’s early international career was stalled by back trouble and he missed most of the 1999/2000 season after suffering a broken leg and wrist in a fielding collision with Steve Waugh during a Test match in Sri Lanka.

Alcott said Gillespie’s action would have to be looked at again.

“It is not a case of him being unlucky, it happens for a reason. He is a long-levered sort of bowler, a tall bloke and that puts a lot of strain on his tendons.”

Alcott said Gillespie had already adapted his action to deal with both his back and with shoulder soreness.

“With Jason it is all bio-mechanical and it is just a case a case of making it easier and less stressful on his body,” said Alcott.

Gillespie was replaced in Australia’s World Cup squad by left-arm fast bowler Nathan Bracken.—Reuters