Subash Jayaraman: Your ESPNcricinfo profile reads: "It wasn't until his fourth coming in the international carer that he truly made his mark against the mighty Australians with back-to-back hundreds." Why do you think it took you so long to get comfortable?

Daren Ganga: If you look at my career, you will see I was virtually plucked out of school cricket and got to play international cricket from a very young age. I would have played just one full season of first-class season for Trinidad and Tobago. In 1997-98, I scored a hundred against Barbados and a half-century against Courtney Walsh and Franklin Rose's Jamaican team. I was selected for West Indies' first tour to South Africa post-apartheid. That was in 1998-99. I was 19. Really, the selection should have offered me the opportunity to learn more about the intensity of international cricket and what was required to be successful. Looking back, I got the opportunity to play, and I don't regret having that opportunity - that made me a strong player.

I travelled a lot initially in my career and I struggled because I was still learning my trade at the highest level. A lot of players make their international Test debut after playing about 60 to 70 first-class matches. That was not the case for me.

Before I really started to realise my potential, I never got the opportunity to play in the conditions in which I had honed my skills. It took me 17 Test matches before I played my first Test in the Caribbean, and that is where I scored my first Test hundred.

 

Full interview at ESPNcricinfo

Full Story

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Well Ganga had a difficult time adjusting, like Devon Smith, Ryan Hinds, Deonarine and Stuart Williams he was a regional star only.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

The guy is a joke. Do any of you remember his response when he was dropped from the inaugural T20 world cup? Said something like, 'high profile players like kallis and me were dropped'

The guy has a piss poor record, and should mention his name in the same sentence as Lara and sarwan

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com


will you please go away with your pedestrian self..

chough, you're the only cricketer to make a cc poster

change his moniker.

right ganga_fan?

In reply to Wally-1

Darlin' Daren was unique: the only player to average less than 30 runs in a home series in which he scored back to back centuries!

Chrissy was a faithful fan

In reply to jacksprat

big clue right there.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Can he name players that made their test debut after 60 to 70 FC matches?

Ganga full ah himself...

doosra?

In reply to WestDem... most players for other countries.


A going check some stats, but a feel without looking that Ganga better than Devon.

In reply to WestDem

maybe not 60 or 70 but at least 40 - 50...Some Aussies are not capped until their late 20's, almost 30.

We send ours in after less than 5 FC matches and expect excellence!

In reply to SirGarny

Some players aged 28 and under who debuted within the last 12 months or so.

Harmer (25 years old) - 1 test, FC 228 wickets and 1851 runs from 57 games.

Babvuma (23) - 2 Tests, FC 3656 runs from 70 matches.

Burns (25) - 1 Test, FC 3000 runs from 46.

Van Zyl (27) - 3 Tests, FC 6249 runs from 99.

Yasir Shah (2 - 5 Tests, FC 312 wickets from 83.

Butler (24) - 3 Tests, FC 2864 runs from 61.

Borthwick (24) - 1 Test, FC 3902 runs and 140 wickets from 82.

Ballance (25) - 8 Tests, FC 6162 runs from 82.

Robson (25) - 7 Tests, FC 5362 runs from 82.

Ali (27) - 7 Tests, FC 7484 runs and 169 wickets from 124.

Shehzad (23) - 8 Tests, FC 4125 runs from 58.

Last 4 WI to debut (not counting ole man Peters)

Johnson (27) - 4 Tests, FC 3104 runs from 56.

Holder (23) - 3 Tests, FC 63 wickets from 26.

Blackwood (23) - 5 Tests, FC 1583 runs from 26.

Cottrell (25) - 2 Tests, FC 70 wickets from 30

One thing i'll agree with Ganga on is that we throw people in the deep end too early and want them to exceed right away. Cotterell keep on playing 1 test matches, not good at all. Let the man go pon A team tours and learn.

There's no method, no psychology, no understanding in the West Indian method. Most people can learn anything with the right approach. Those in charge of building professionals are not aware of that basic truth. They therefore adopt a helter skelter approach which gets them nowhere and hurts their protégés.

Grit and determination but still clueless lol but hey you gave it your all cannot fault you for that Darren G. Just not good enough.

In reply to jen
True ting...if anything Ganga is part of the WI generations that were mishandled. Tremendous talents that were spoiled ...

I think Ganga learned a lot from his cricket and continue to contribute positively to the region. I think he is a player that would have done better in a different environment.