WEST Indies spinner Nikita Miller is expected to return to fitness sooner than originally thought after suffering a right-side strain during the second One-Day International (ODI) match versus South Africa in Antigua recently.

Miller, along with Guyanese batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan (left hamstring strain) and Barbadian fast bowler Kemar Roach (left ankle soreness) were asked by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to return to their respective territories to recuperate.

Roach has since improved enough to be selected in the squad for the first Test against South Africa which gets underway in Trinidad on Thursday, while Dominican off-spinner Shane Shillingford has been brought in, along with lanky left-armer Sulieman Benn to fill the specialist slow bowling slots.

When contacted last week, Miller told the Observer he has been recovering steadily since his return to the island.

“I’ve been improving since I came back last week Tuesday (May 25). I went to the physiotherapist the day after I came back and it has been improving. I’ve done some strength work and I may even try to bowl this weekend (last weekend) so that we can see where I am,” he said.

Miller has been in consultation with physiotherapist Karen Julius and Dr Akshai Mansingh. The latter is expected to update the WICB on the spinner’s rate of recovery.

However, this newspaper has been reliably informed that barring any serious mishap, Miller could be back to full fitness in a week’s time.

The 28-year-old has taken 30 wickets in 33 ODIs, but was wicketless in his lone Test match to date against Bangladesh last July

Many believed the orthodox left-armer was also in contention for a place in the starting team for the home series against England in early 2009. On that occasion, it was a left-side injury that had him replaced by Benn.

Said Miller: “I had a similar injury on the left side last year, but this present one is on the right side. I don’t know how it happened because I had practised since the previous game and felt nothing.

“Then in my third over of the second game I felt a pull or a pop when I bowled the fourth ball. I tried to stretch it out and then when I went to bowl the fifth ball everything just felt worse. Now it’s better and since I’ve been consulting with my physio and the doctor I can say it is not as bad as first thought.”

Julius told the Observer that the slim-built spinner’s condition has been progressing as well as expected.

“It is much improved and the rehab is going very well in terms of what we expect. We’ve been working almost every day since he has been back and we’re just going to gradually work to get him available for selection soon,” added Julius.

West Indies squad: Chris Gayle (capt), Dwayne Bravo (vice-capt), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Brendan Nash, Nelon Pascal, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Shane Shillingford.