Best aiming for peak form in Champions Trophy

CAVE HILL, Barbados, CMC- West Indies fast bowler Tino Best says he is eagerly looking forward to playing in the United Kingdom, venue for next month’s Champions League.

The 31-year-old was speaking yesterday after players held a full training session at the Sagicor High Performance Centre at the 3Ws Oval, under the guidance of Head Coach Ottis Gibson.

The camp started on Monday and will end on Friday.

“I’m about 80 percent and loading…I don’t want to go too hard in the camp and then when the tournament comes I’m tired,” said Best.

“I want to hit the tournament at 100 percent and bowling rapid (pace).”

During the Test series against England last year Best made a world-record 95 batting at Number 11.

He said will arrive full of confidence based on the brilliant showing in Sri Lanka last October when West Indies won the ICC World T20 Championship.

“Last summer was amazing. To come back into the Test team and do so well felt really good and gave me the confidence to kick on and do even better,” said Best who made a successful return to international cricket last year after several seasons in the wilderness and is looking to continue his resurgence.

“I’m looking forward to playing in England once again. Once we play as unit as we did in Sri Lanka, I think we will do very well again. It is not a one-man show”.

The team will depart from Barbados on Saturday and have another camp in Cardiff, Wales from May 25 to June 2.

The ICC Champions Trophy will feature eight teams: Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

The tournament will be played across three venues – Cardiff Wales Stadium, Edgbaston and The Oval – from June 6-23.