Sarwan hints of something special (26 January 1999)

26 January 1999

Sarwan hints of something special

Tony Becca

Jamaica went down to their first defeat in the regional Busta Cup cricket competition at Sabina Park yesterday, and after starting favourites to win the match and to leave themselves in a good position to finish in the top four must be feeling a bit disappointed - especially in the performance of the batsmen.

With three matches, including one against the Windward Islands, to go in the round-robin stage of the tournament, however, Jamaica still has a chance to reach the second stage where the number one will host number four, and number two the number three for a place in the final.

In losing the match, against a Guyana team without bat smen Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Keith Semple, bowlers Reon King and Neil McGarrell, Jamaica can have no excuse and must be concerned about the batting of Robert Samuels and Tony Powell, the batting of the so-called allrounders, the wicketkeeping of Shane Ford, and the general fielding.

Of the batting concerns, the main one must be Samuels who, like fellow opener Leon Garrick, is expected to give the team a good start.

Against the Leeward Islands, Samuels got out playing a terrible stroke, and although he fell to a brilliant catch in the first innings against Guyana, if the ball was not in the air substitute Andre Percival, running back and to his left from mid-off, could not have caught it.

The left-hander is batting like a man out of touch, he seems to be short of confidence, and his place in the team must be on the line.

As far as the batting of Laurie Williams, Nehemiah Perry, and Brian Murphy is concerned, their strokeplay can be attractive at times, but based on the evidence, they lack the capacity to perform when performance is needed.

Ford, a fighter at the crease, does not inspire confidence behind the stumps where, apart from his problems against right-arm legspinner Murphy, the ball keeps dropping out of his gloves. He too needs a good performance behind the stumps if he intends being around if and when Jamaica contest the semi-finals.

The real concern, however, is the fielding of the team - especially where catches are concerned. Four simple catches in the first innings against Guyana and two in the second is just not good enough.

On the credit side, fast bowler Dwight Mais, playing in his second firstclass match, continued to impress, not only with his skills, but with his capacity to step up and perform, offspinner Perry is bowling well, and although his length is too up and down, Murphy is getting the ball to spin and to bounce. He is also getting better and better with his googly.

As far as the future of West Indies cricket is concerned, the pleasing performance of the match was the batting of Guyana's teenager Ramnaresh Sarwan.

In Jamaica's opening match, Wavell Hinds, one of the young ones at the top of the selectors list, impressed with his maturity and his stroke selection. In this match, and after doubts about his ability to produce despite his talent, Sarwan hinted that he is genuine.

In the first innings, he batted fairly well for 23 after joining the action at 50 for three. It was, however, in the second innings that he really impressed.

With his team on 25 for two, Sarwan not only propped up the innings by scoring 87, but he also paraded some lovely strokes. His driving, especially against the spinners, was refreshing. He reminded of the time when batsmen were not prepared to surrender to slow bowlers - the time when, instead of pushing out and hoping, they used to chip and drive in a bid to conquer.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)