Adelaide: Paceman Jason Gillespie on Friday declared himself fit for Australia's tour of the West Indies after bowling for the first time since returning injured from the World Cup. Gillespie bowled 18 deliveries at the Adelaide Oval nets, but it was enough to convince the fast bowler he had overcome a torn tendon in his right foot which ended his World Cup campaign in South Africa. "Everything seemed to go well, it felt good and really positive," Gillespie said. "Clinically, my leg is fine now, the strength is getting back and just to have a bowl felt really good and I was more than happy with the result." Gillespie said the brief net session, his first bowl for almost four weeks, assured he would join the Australian squad on Monday for departure to the West Indies and the four-Test series, starting April 10 in Guyana. The South Australian fast bowler has missed as much international cricket as he has played because of injury. "Injuries are part and parcel of being a fast bowler," he said. Copyright AFP 2001

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