'I'm Battling Back to Full Fitness' - Devon Smith

When the West Indies selectors opted for Daren Ganga as Brian Lara's replacement for the tour of India, a 21-year-old in Grenada felt a pang of disappointment. But it only lasted a few moments because Devon Smith knew exactly why he wasn't considered and what he had to do to make things right.

"I only started practising a week ago after the back injury. I'd say I'm about 80 to 85 percent fit right now so, yes, definitely, the injury must have been a factor. There is still some pain in the lower back area but I'm battling back. Things are much better now than a month ago," Smith said in an exclusive interview with CaribbeanCricket.com.

Smith, a hard-hitting left-hander in the mould of Roy Fredericks, said doctors in Canada diagnosed the injury as a lower back strain (muscle) and he has been on a strict rehab programme since.

David Cumberbatch, who was the West Indies 'A' team's physio on the England/Canada tour, set up a rigid rehab program for Smith that included calisthenics to regain muscular strength in the damaged area.

"I've been doing a lot of sit-ups, twists, training on the beach and I feel a lot better now . I'll be ready for the Windwards Islands inter-island tournament (in January)," Smith said.

Smith has not appeared in a cricket match since August and has only started practising in the nets last week in his native Grenada, where he is every much the pride of the Spice Isle.

For now, the plan is to be at 100 percent by Christmas, Smith said, noting that only match-practice will bring back his timing and form. In 32 first class matches, Smith has already scored 1,974 runs (avg. 35.25, HS 181) but Smith is the first to admit he has fallen short of his own high expectations.

"I always set goals. I always want to score the most runs in any tournament. I believe in myself. Next Busta Cup, I want to get more than 600 runs. I want to score heavily and force the selectors to pay attention," he declared, not in an arrogant way, but more out of the confidence that has made him a household name around the Caribbean.

Smith said he contemplated finishing up the domestic season in either Trinidad or Barbados but decided against aggravating the injury.

Not since Brian Lara has a young batsman promised so much. He was not even 18 when he took on the likes of Cameron Cuffy and Casper Davis in a Windward Islands tournament to put together a match-saving 73 to sound off warnings that he was one to watch.

Immediately after, on the Under-19 tour to England, Smith announced his arrival in style. In the one-day internationals against Young England, he averaged a whopping 121.5 and in the three "Tests", Smith was again the star, averaging 62.33 (374 runs).

When he returned to England, with the 'A' team this year, things started out slowly but, in the end, he was again the leading scorer in the first-class tour matches (465 runs, HS 181, avg. 46.50).

"It was a bit difficult adjusting in the early part of the tour and I was struggling. Sometimes, things just don't always go your way, you know. But, I remained positive and the runs came. In England, the ball swings a bit. It's not like in the West Indies so there were some difficulties adjusting early in the tour," Smith explained.

"I still scored the most runs in the four-day matches but I should've done better. I know I should have done better."

As he battles to recover from the muscle strain in his lower back, Smith expressed disappointment that senior executives from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had not called to simply ask how he was doing.

"Nobody from the West Indies Board has ever called me to find out what's going on. It would be nice for someone there to call to see how I'm doing. But, I'm not going to let that keep me down. I have to keep working hard," he said.

He said the support from the Windward Islands Board has been tremendous, especially president Walter St John, who serves as a WICB director.

"Mr St John calls me every other day. Just to ask about my fitness programme and keep in touch. That really does help to keep me focused."