Bravo: Dwayne ready to go again
CRICKET:
Brace yourself Brisbane, Dwayne Bravo is ready to put on another show.
The flamboyant West Indian starred for the Melbourne Renegades in their season-opening win over the Hobart Hurricanes on Thursday night, jagging 5-28.
The all-rounder admits though to being a little anxious about returning to Etihad Stadium tonight for the first time since he suffered a near career-threatening hamstring tear there 12 months ago.
He was fielding in the deep when he pulled up lame.
“I still have a long way to go but I have no niggles (physically), which is important, it’s just a matter of mentally getting over that hurdle,” Bravo said yesterday.
“Just trusting my body when I’m running around and diving; not worrying about getting injured again.
“I think once my blood starts flowing all of those things will just go out of my head.
“I will be a little nervous but I’m looking forward to playing back at home again in front of our crowd.”
Bravo became the first player to reach 400 T20 wickets.
“The 400 (wickets) is a great achievement personally but in a sport like this you rely on your teammates, so they have to get some credit as well,” he said.
“You look at some of the other bowlers who are up there like Lasith Malinga, Sunil Narine and Shahid Afridi; they’re all world-class bowlers and I’m humbled by that.
“But winning cricket games is most important for me.”
It is still to be determined exactly who Bravo may be bowling to tonight.
Marnus Labuschagne is certain to come into the Heat line-up for Joe Burns, who suffered a groin strain during his match-winning 27-ball 50 against the Stars.
But superstar hitter Chris Lynn remains in some doubt with a hamstring strain.
He looks more likely to come in for the Heat’s next home game on Wednesday.
Renegades v Heat, 6.25pm