Dave Mohammed 'Ripe' For Testing
I feel ready
Philip Spooner
27-Mar-2001
I feel ready. It's all new to me but I feel I can do the job.
Those were the words of Trinidad and Tobago allrounder Dave Mohammed
yesterday, when he was first informed he was selected in the West
Indies 13-man squad for the third Test against South Africa at
Kensington Oval, starting Thursday.
I feel more confident. This is what I wanted to play at the highest
level. Since I came in to the Trinidad (and Tobago) side I have been
playing tough.
I always had the ambition of playing for the West Indies and I'm very
happy, the 21-year-old told NATIONSPORT from the dressing room at
Kensington Oval yesterday evening, at the end of the three-day match
between South Africa and the West Indies Board XI.
Mohammed made his first-class debut in this year's Busta Cup and
impressed with his left-arm chinaman bowling, his positive batting and
aggressive attitude. He possesses the uncanny ability to get the ball
in the same spot more often than most slow bowlers with such limited
experience.
Mohammed has been selected after a mere three first-class matches. He
took 13 wickets in two matches against the West Indies B Development
team and Barbados. He took two for 35 in the second innings yesterday
and one for 57 in the first innings.
I just take it on myself to play normal and be confident all the time,
he said. I changed around a lot of things this year, making my cricket
more complete, and I feel confident and ready.
He said he adjusted his bowling run-up, cutting it down, and tried to
concentrate more on his batting before he made it into the Trinidad
and Tobago side.
The run-up was long and I knew I had to change a few things to make it
to a higher grade. I was focussed on making the West Indies team. It
came quicker than I expected, but I'm happy I could make it.
Mohammed was in the Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 team during the West
Indies tournament in Barbados in 1999, but did not play a match. He
has also played in Barbados with Tranquility Government School in the
Sir Garfield Sobers International School tournament.
He is the first player from Princess Town, south Trinidad, to make the
West Indies team and is the last of ten children six boys and four
girls.
He said his mother Saferan had been a tremendous guide.
He admitted being surprised at his selection and thanked former
Trinidad national Under-19 coach Harry Lala, other coaches Mervin
Richardson and Zide Ali, along with Alston Daniel, who helped with
bowling adjustments and using the crease.