Chilling with Viv, Curtly and Maco
Tino Best got to meet a whole bunch of his heroes at one go
Interview by Mohammad Isam
09-Dec-2012

Tino Best: he's got celebrations covered • Associated Press
First football celebration
I was playing first-class cricket - for Barbados against Trinidad & Tobago - in March 2003. I got Brian Lara out for a duck and that was the first time I did the football celebration. I think I ran to the other side of the field!
I was playing first-class cricket - for Barbados against Trinidad & Tobago - in March 2003. I got Brian Lara out for a duck and that was the first time I did the football celebration. I think I ran to the other side of the field!
First time I met my heroes
My uncle Carlisle Best played for the West Indies. Once I was taken to the dressing room to meet the giants of cricket. That gave me great bragging rights - going back to my primary school, where I told the guys, "I was chilling with my uncle, Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Viv Richards."
My uncle Carlisle Best played for the West Indies. Once I was taken to the dressing room to meet the giants of cricket. That gave me great bragging rights - going back to my primary school, where I told the guys, "I was chilling with my uncle, Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Viv Richards."
First time I got sledged
It was playing tape-ball cricket as a kid. I got smacked on the jaw by a bouncer and started crying. I remember the guys were just slagging me off, so I told them, "When I get older, I will beat you all." So that was also the first time I sledged, I guess!
It was playing tape-ball cricket as a kid. I got smacked on the jaw by a bouncer and started crying. I remember the guys were just slagging me off, so I told them, "When I get older, I will beat you all." So that was also the first time I sledged, I guess!
First big case of nerves
The night before my first Test, which was in 2003, I put on my cricket clothes and slept in them. I called up Brett Lee in the middle of the night and said, "Binga, I'm in the team." He said, "Man, I'm sleeping. Congrats, though, and all the best for the morning."
The night before my first Test, which was in 2003, I put on my cricket clothes and slept in them. I called up Brett Lee in the middle of the night and said, "Binga, I'm in the team." He said, "Man, I'm sleeping. Congrats, though, and all the best for the morning."
First hat-trick
It was in club cricket. I got six wickets, both hat-tricks, in three overs. I was playing for Barbados Army against a team called Barbados Cricket League.
It was in club cricket. I got six wickets, both hat-tricks, in three overs. I was playing for Barbados Army against a team called Barbados Cricket League.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent