KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):

West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor, on the mend from a back problem that has sidelined him for the past two months, has resumed light training with the Jamaica team.

Taylor, 25, said he has to be cautious and will not be rushing back to play competitively.

"I'm not really ready to play any cricket as yet. I'm just trying to get a feel of how my back is and where I go from here," he told reporters.

no stress fracture

Taylor left the Australia tour last December with back and hip trouble and while Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan revealed no stress fracture, he was suffering from stiffness in the area. He joined the Jamaican squad in training at Melbourne this week.

"It's a case where we have to do rehab and make sure we do some strength work so, I'm just here going through the paces," said Taylor, who faces assault charges in court next week.

Taylor was arrested on December 30 last year after being accused of verbally abusing and assaulting a police sergeant in a bar in the town of Junction, in his southern home parish of St Elizabeth.

Reports said Taylor launched an assault on the officer after police entered the bar to warn the bartender about keeping the establishment open beyond the stipulated hours.

He was arrested and subsequently released on J$20,000 (US$224) bail.

Taylor appeared in court in mid-January and was given a new trial date of Tuesday, February 9.