Ramdin Eyes 2007 World Cup
Young wicketkeeper batsman Denesh Ramdin has his eyes set on two major goals in the coming months -- scoring his first Test century in Pakistan in the upcoming tour, and playing for the West Indies in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Ramdin, 21, was in Tortola, British Virgin Islands over the last two weekends to take part in the Level One West Indies Cricket Board coaching course, which was facilitated mainly by WICB?s Territorial Development Officer (Jamaica) Philip Service.
The course included presentations on fitness and diet by physical Trainer Evans 'Jawaki' Jones and nutritionist Joanne Keaveney, arising out of the Stanford Initiative. It was organised by the British Virgin Islands Cricket Association, and came on the heels of the full-time appointment of a national cricket coach in the Territory -- Debideen Manick, of Trinidad and Tobago -- also out of the Stanford initiative.
When asked why he attended the course, Ramdin said knowledge of the game is an important way to develop as a young cricketer, and added that he even looks forward to doing Level Two at some time in the future.
As part of the course, Ramdin also assisted the coaching instructors, Service and Manick, with some of the demonstrations in wicketkeeping.
Ramdin, who has been in training with the Trinidad and Tobago national team under coach David Williams for the KFC Cup starting January, said he is staying fit and working hard to achieve these two goals.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Ramdin said he also believes there is an abundance of talent in the Caribbean, but called for more guidance to be given to young players who are emerging out of the regional youth tournaments.
The young wicketkeeper named countryman Brian Lara and Australian Adam Gilchrist as role models in his cricketing career. He also praised Manick for guiding him during his youth cricket and said he maintains a close relationship with the BVI head coach.
Ramdin said he has been using the training with the Trinidad national team to get ready for the Pakistan tour, for which he leaves later this month, having been named in the test team.
"I know it will be my first experience in Pakistan, and they have several world-class and match-winning bowlers, and the pitches are likely to be a bit on the slower side, but I would like to go down there and get my first test century," he said.
This will be great for me as a young player coming through," added Ramdin. "I have been playing for over a year now for the West Indies, and I think I have the ability to go out there score my maiden test century, which will be a big boost for me and my team."
Ramdin said he is looking forward for a good tour in Pakistan, as this will boost his chances for making the West Indies World Cup team. "I am just continuing to work hard and trying my best to make my way back into the West Indies one-day team. Hopefully, once I score some runs and stay focused I should be able to get back in the one-day team."
Ramdin suggested that players at all levels should set personal goals for themselves and then do their best to achieve them, saying this will ultimately benefit the team they are representing.
Ramdin is the lone West Indian player nominated in the ICC awards list for this year, for which the winners will be announced on November 3. The awards cover players' performances from August 1, 2005 to August 8, 2006.
He has been nominated in the "Emerging Player of the Year" category, alongside England's Monty Panesar, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell; Sri Lanka's Malinga Bandara and Upul Tharanga; Pakistan's Mohammed Asif; and Bangladesh's Shahriar Nafees.
Jamaican Carlton Baugh has been the preferred wicketkeeper for the West Indies in recent one-day games, while Ramdin has been playing for the regional team in the Test matches.
To date Ramdin has played 12 Tests, averaging 26.55 with three 50s, and has taken 29 catches. In 14 one-days, he averages 33 at a strike rate of 81.48. Baugh averages 19.6 in five tests, with four catches and one stumping. He has also played in 20 one-days, with an average of 16.3 and a strike rate of 69.03.