LIVE SCORE

By BV Swagath

With just 4 years of International Cricket exposure, Ramnaresh Sarwan is considered as a force to reckon with. This youngster from Guyana has played some match winning knocks in both versions of the game and against the best bowling attacks. West Indies has produced some of the best stroke makers and Ramnaresh Ronnie Sarwan is no exception to that. As Brian Charles Lara, the record holder for the highest individual score in test cricket, rightly said that the future is with the youngsters - the Chirs Gayles and the Sarwans to take up the mantle of scoring heavily; West Indies are on their way to glory if these youngsters put their head down and justify their talents in the middle.

Competitive cricket started at an early age for Sarwan. In fact, Sarwan became the youngest regional first-class player ever with a first class debut against the fiery bowling attack of Barbados when he was just 15 years old. So that meant this little statured Guyanese right-hander was ready for International Cricket after 4 years of first class cricket. His test match debut was against Pakistan at the Kensington Oval at Bridgetown, Barbados and was against five dangerous bowlers in Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain and Razzaq. With some exemplary footwork, Sarwan defied all these bowlers and notched up a composed 84*. This innings is still remembered for Sarwan's wonderful technique against the spin twins of Saqlain and Mushy.

Ever since his test debut, Sarwan has been producing some neat innings for the West Indies and a test match average of 38 from 79 test innings (as of date of this article), this stylish right-hander hasn't fully used his potential as yet. One of his best test innings was at the Antigua Recreation Ground against the unbeatable Aussies as West Indies chased the record breaking second innings total of 418. Sarwan wasn't going to back off either from the challenge of the never-say-die Aussies or the exaggerated sledging from the Pigeon - Glen McGrath.

For a batsman with impeccable caliber, adjusting his game from Test matches to One Day Internationals isn't a difficult task at all, and Sarwan has proved that in his impressive one-day career. He can be called Mr. Consistent for Windies with his batting average of over 47 coming from 59 ODIs which includes two hundreds and nine half-centuries (as of date of writing this article). Ramnaresh Sarwan won millions of hearts with his courageous knock against Sri Lanka in a World Cup clash at Newlands after defying medical advice for his team. In the initial stages of his innings, a nasty bouncer from Dilhara Fernando hit Sarwan above his left ear and he had to retire hurt. But with West Indies at 169/7 chasing an out-of-reach 229, Sarwan resumed his innings from 10 and he only had the tail with him. Sarwan blasted 37 more runs but West Indies in the end fell short by six runs. Cricket can be a heartless game sometimes, but the courage and the spirit shown by Sarwan on that night at Newlands would be remembered and talked about for many many years. Sarwan has become more responsible as a player now with the Vice Captaincy and the occasional Captaincy mantle on his small but broad shoulders.

With such a blend of talent, match temperament and courage Ramnaresh Ronnie Sarwan, a little but gutsy player would play his part in many exciting victories of the West Indies and would do his best in reviving the Caribbean Calypso.