National cricket team all-rounder Saleem Mukuddem completed his first practice session of the new year in the indoor nets at the BHS gym earlier this week.

It was the first time Mukuddem, who celebrates his 35th birthday on Saturday, had either bowled or held a bat since injuring his lower back just prior to Bermuda?s final one-day international against Holland in South Africa last November.

As a result the veteran, who holds multiple Cup Match records, was ruled out of the national team?s current training camp in Trinidad and Tobago.

?I batted for about an hour and a half last night and afterwards my back wasn?t tight or anything like that. So I was pretty happy with that,? Mukuddem told

?I also bowled for about a half and hour at about 60 percent and nothing flat out and I?m still standing. So the back is holding up well and I?m actually going out for a bicycle ride this morning.?

Mukuddem received clearance to intensify his training after the latest scans revealed that minor damage to his lower back had healed over the Christmas holiday.

Convinced that one of the national team?s key members had regained his health, national team selectors named Mukuddem in Bermuda?s World Cricket League squad that departs the Island a week today for Kenya.

?Basically the scan proved that there was no stress fracture. I woke up the last morning of our last ODI against Holland and my back was sore,? Mukuddem explained.

?I wouldn?t say it was a scare, but something I could?ve done without at this particular stage. But playing at the level that we are now playing at, and the fact that I give 100 percent in every game, injuries are bound to occur.?

Under the instructions of team physiotherapist Craig Brown, Mukuddem had been receiving ultra sound and deep tissue massages, in addition to well-needed rest upon his return to the Island from his native South Africa.

?We had just come off a long tour (five weeks) and a rest had to be taken in any case. So I think the rest and getting my injury treated as soon as I did gave me the longest possible period to recover,? he said.

?I didn?t let it fester and received treatment from professionals while I was there (South Africa) because I wanted to get it done (x-ray) done as early as possible.

?Now basically what I have to do before and after games is give specific attention to the area.?

The Western Stars stalwart hit top stride in South Africa with both bat and ball. And it is this form Mukuddem hopes to reproduce in Kenya later this month.

?Having played against Holland and Kenya before I am extremely optimistic that, on our day, we can beat those guys,? he said.

?I have no doubt we can be victorious if we apply ourselves on the day and approach it with the right frame of mind, knowing that we trained hard and prepared for the tournament properly.

?Cricket is one of those games where your confidence in terms of form and self-belief all goes hand-in-hand. Earlier in the year I worked on a lot of new things technically and overall I think I can improve. So I hope to take this self-confidence and self-belief into whatever I do.

?And once I can get over the psychological effect of the injury, then I?ll feel pretty confident and optimistic going forward.?