Gillespie declares himself fit for Windies

ADELAIDE: Australia’s Jason Gillespie bowled 18 deliveries at a net session yesterday before declaring he had overcome a heel injury and would be fit for the West Indies tour starting next week.

“Everything seemed to go well, it felt good and really positive,” the fast bowler told reporters at the Adelaide Oval. “Clinically my leg is fine now. “The strength is getting back and just to have a bowl felt really good. I was more than happy with the result.” The 27-year-old withdrew on March 5 from the World Cup in southern Africa after a heel scan showed he had a strained tendon in his right foot. “It’s a great tour and a great place to play cricket,” Gillespie said of the forthcoming four-Test series. “The sun is on your back all the time and in your downtime you can head down to the beach and just relax. “The West Indies at home are a very tough side and you know you have to play very good cricket to win.”

A key member of Australia’s attack, Gillespie had taken eight wickets at an average of 12.25 in four matches at this year’s World Cup before he suffered yet another injury blow. The tall South Australian has missed out on consecutive World Cup triumphs after injury also ruled him out of the 1999 tournament. Gillespie’s career has been repeatedly stalled by injuries, most spectacularly when he collided with captain Steve Waugh while fielding in a test match in Sri Lanka in 1999, breaking his leg while Waugh suffered a broken nose. “Injuries are part and parcel of being a fast bowler,” said Gillespie, who has taken 146 wickets at 26.12 in 39 Tests. “A few years back when I broke my leg I certainly changed my whole training regime and it seemed to have worked. “I have had the odd injury here and there but nothing overly significant, sprains and strains.”