Sarwan focussed on comeback

Ramnaresh Sarwan, the West Indies batsman, has said that he considered quitting the international game "as recently as eight months ago" but is now focussed on fighting for his place. Sarwan's contract was not renewed by the WICB in August 2010 and he has been in and out of the side since. He was most recently left out of the team for the third Test against India in Dominica in July.

"I did actually [consider quitting]," Sarwan told the Royal Gazette, "probably as recently as eight months ago, because everything was getting frustrating. You're in a situation where you're not sure what's happening, whether it was for a good reason or a bad reason. I always felt I was walking a very thin line [with the board], and obviously ... I mean, it's just a matter of how bad I want it now."

When the WICB cut Sarwan from its list of contracted players, the board had said it was "concerned about Sarwan's extremely indifferent attitude and sporadic approach towards fitness, particularly in recent years". He was dropped for the rain-marred tour of Sri Lanka in 2010 and for the first three ODIs against Pakistan in April this year. He then scored only 29 runs in the first two Tests against India before he was dropped for the third.

"The past two-and-a-half years, it's been disappointing," Sarwan said. "Obviously I've had my problems with the board in terms of my fitness issue and stuff like that; then I have been out of form. I have been in and out of the team, but I think it's just a test of my character. I think I have a lot more cricket in me and I'm determined to gain back my position, and do whatever is necessary cricket-wise to get back there.

"Everything else is behind me, what happened in the past has stayed in the past, there's nothing that will get in my way from here on in. I will put everything aside and show myself, and continue to be the old Ramnaresh Sarwan, who first started his career in 2000."

Sarwan said he planned to begin his comeback by performing in domestic tournaments. "I've got another two months before the regional tournament starts, it's a tournament I'm looking forward to. I want to show myself in the regional tournament and get myself back into the West Indies team.

"I think once you perform you'll play, and if you don't you'll suffer the consequences. The easiest part is to get there, the hardest part is to stay, I've got some work to do."