Sarwan Expects to be Back in Four Weeks

By Orin Davidson

West Indies middle order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan is feeling better these days and expects a complete recovery from his injured back within four weeks.

The 21-year-old batsman said he was receiving daily treatment for a degenerated disc and is recovering well since pulling out from the West Indies just before the start of their current series against Pakistan, last month.

"I'm much better now, the back is coming around well, I am bending more freely than before," the Guyanese star stated.

Sarwan is presently undergoing extensive abdominal and back exercises to strengthen the muscles in the two areas which he said are vital to his recovery, under the treatment of local physiotherapist Paula Alexander.

"The exercises and rest are what is required as treatment, Sarwan explained. He said surgery was once recommended after he visited a specialist in Trinidad and Tobago but a second opinion suggested otherwise and he decided to go with the latter opinion.

Sarwan disclosed that a subsequent visit to Jamaica where he was examined by two doctors including Guyanese Dr Crandon diagnosed no surgery was required and they provided a programme of rehabilitation therapy for six weeks.

The former Guyana Under-19 captain said if all goes well he might well return in three weeks and appear for Guyana in their final preliminary round Busta Cup game against the Leeward Islands at Albion from March 8-11.

But at this point he envisions coming back after four weeks for the Busta Shield if Guyana qualifies.

Sarwan said he has been carrying the injury since the July/August tours by West Indies of Zimbabwe and Kenya. "I missed two one-day games in Kenya because of it and came home and got some treatment," he explained. "I was about 90 percent fit for the Red Stripe Bowl and left for Sri Lanka the same way."

However, his conditioned worsened in Sri Lanka but he nevertheless endured the assignment and came out with flying colours.

When the majority of his West Indian teammates failed the injured Sarwan courageously battled the wyles of Muttiah Muralitharan and company to score 318 runs in the three tests at an average of 53, second only to the phenomenal feats of Brian Lara.

The Guyanese explained that his determination to succeed was the key to him not being dominated by spin bowling great Muralitharan. "I never told myself I wanted to give up, I was very determined," explained Sarwan. "I never faced anyone who turned the ball as big as him and I tried to read him off the pitch most of the time," he added.

* SOURCE: Stabroek News.