Striving for Consistency

Tue, Jul 1, '03

 

MICHELLE McDONALD talks to Daren Ganga

In 1998, the University of the West Indies' (UWI) St Augustine campus received an application from a young Trinidadian who had been successful in his A-level exams. Then a telephone call changed life very dramatically for this young man from Barrackpore who was to have read for a degree in Industrial Management.

Some production factory's loss was West Indies' cricket's gain as Daren Ganga was selected to the West Indies team in 1998 to tour South Africa at the age of 19.

Two factors made Ganga believe that selection to play at the highest level was around the corner. The first was having a good domestic season. The second was what current skipper Brian Lara said to him. "I remember there was a lot of talk around the Caribbean that the selectors were looking to blood young cricketers, to bring young cricketers into the team. Playing with Brian as well, he gave us an indication that young cricketers were being looked upon and because we have that sort of rapport and relationship, he told me [that] based on my technical ability I need to score runs and maybe I can get a break. I did have a good season so at the back of my mind I knew that there was always a chance of me getting selected".

The memory of that first call is still fresh in Ganga's mind. "When I came home from the Red Stripe Bowl I was practising in my yard. The phone rang and it was actually Brian telling me that I was selected". The Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board telephoned soon after to confirm his selection.

How did he feel when he got the call? "Obviously I was elated. It was something that I've always dreamed about achieving, being a part of the West Indies cricket team. I'm a player who went through the ranks both for Trinidad & Tobago and West Indies".

With a chuckle, Ganga later quips "it wasn't one of those Fidel Edwards things" referring to the surprise selection of the young Barbadian fast bowler for the second Test Match against Sri Lanka after only a solitary First Class match under his belt.

Next, Daren had to share the news. "I had just been on the phone, I had just spoken to Brian, I dropped it [phone] down and I lived with my parents at that time, my Dad was there and I just punched the air and I told him 'yes I'm on'. I got a hug from all my family members."

Daren Ganga has had a chequered international career. Barely averaging in the 20s, Ganga had to play 17 tests before being selected to play in a home series, thereby getting the opportunity to thrill his hometown fans. The second of back-to-back centuries was scored at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad to the delight of Trinidadians and all West Indians. Often described as having one of the best techniques of current batsmen, Daren is still striving to maintain consistency in scoring runs.

After his second century -- 117 in the first innings of the second Test against Australia -- Ganga's scores read 2, 26, 6, 6, 8 and 12. His loss of form coupled with the strong performance of Wavell Hinds, saw him lose his place in the final XI for the just concluded Sri Lanka series.

On being first selected for the West Indies, there was excitement yes "but at the back of my mind I knew it was the start of something big and the start of hard work and the sort of dedication and commitment and new experiences. I was up for that sort of challenge and immediately I started preparing myself."

It is this hard work that Darren realizes he needs to do more of. "I'm still working diligently to be permanently on the team" Ganga said, and mental preparation is a part of that work. "Before I play a game, I must do a bit of reading the night before, listen to a certain type of music. I've got some motivational books. It sort of sets you in tune, it gives you inspiration from other people all over the world, not necessarily famous people, but it gives you that inspiration and motivation for you to go on."

Ganga also recognizes the need to relax. "I'm a sort of player who many a times, I'm too caught up in the game. I try too hard so I need to find ways of relaxing and this is something I need to emphasize on, just being able to relax, just being able to talk myself through and just more enjoy it more than anything else, instead of trying to make it a job."

Cricket is now Daren Ganga's job. It could easily have been different for this young Trinidadian and if it were, he would have been prepared. "My education was sort of a safety net. Since I started secondary school, I always wanted to have that as my safety net because I knew my main thing was playing professional cricket and if for some reason at all it didn't work out, I would fall back on studying and choosing another career. But it so happens I'm here still."

Still here to have seen the many failures of the West Indies team which Darren has his own thoughts on. "Although we've not had that sort of successes as we would like, the experience has been amazing. I think what would be sweet is being able to go through this sort of misery and this sort of failures and then later down the line, reap the rewards and we're beginning to do that and I think it's more cherished, the victories."

Daren Ganga and the rest of his team mates are now basking in the glow of a series win over Sri Lanka. For the next victory, Ganga would hope to have played a more direct part by being one of the 11 to take the field and continue realizing his life long dream.

"My dream was to be a part of West Indies team and make myself a permanent fixture, stay as long [as possible] and try and save West Indies cricket and do my best and do whatever I could have done in order to make sure that West Indies team and my performances fly high."

Daren still has some flying to do, but with his spiritual guard on him every time he enters a cricket field, all things are possible.