Jamaica Scorpions pace bowler Nicholson Gordon says he is “fit and ready” for battle after missing the opening two matches of the regional four-day cricket championship due to a thigh injury.

The Scorpions, who are last in the six-team competition with 10 points, are set to take on fourth-placed Windward Islands Volcanoes (19.4 points) at the National Stadium in Guyana, starting on Wednesday.

Gordon, who plays for Kensington Cricket Club in east Kingston, said though he hasn’t set the world alight in the wickets’ column since returning from injury, he got a few local competitive matches under his belt to help get rid of the rust.

“I’m back from injury, I feel confident and I’m fit and ready to play. I’ve played Senior Cup [club] games and a [practice] game after the recovering from the injury,” the 31-year-old player told the Jamaica Observer before the team departed for Guyana on Sunday.

“I was just trying to get into a groove, bowl some balls and that was basically it for me. I know what I can do so it was just for me to group some balls [bowl to a spot] and try to catch up from where I was [before the injury],” the right-arm pacer explained.

One of the premier bowlers for the Scorpions in recent four-day seasons, Gordon stood in his debut season of Twenty20 cricket last year, capturing nine wickets to help Jamaica Tallawahs win the Caribbean Premier League title. He took 3-33 in the final.

In 13 first-class matches he has taken 39 wickets — including innings best figures of 7-70 — at an average of 24.15.

And though he had to wait a while before getting a sustained run in the Scorpions team, Gordon said he was never disheartened.

“I believe in myself and I believe in hard work and patience, so if I’m out of a team I’m a person who keeps going and I keep believing in myself and just try to work on stuff to continue improving,” he explained.

“I’ve been playing in a few leagues over the past couple years, and I’ve done well, so it’s just for me to continue where I left off. I’m really looking forward to getting back out there for the Scorpions to help the team win some matches,” he ended.

Guyana Harpy Eagles lead the table with 28.6 points, ahead of Barbados Pride (23), Trinidad & Tobago Red Force (20.6) and fifth-placed Leeward Islands Hurricanes (17.4).

SQUAD — Leroy Lugg, Kirk McKenzie, Tevin Gilzene, Nkrumah Bonner, Paul Palmer, Abhijai Mansingh, Aldaine Thomas, Jamie Merchant, Patrick Harty, Nicholson Gordon, Marquino Mindley, Ojay Shields, Derval Green.