Williams: I never gave up hope (3 Aug 1997)

Sunday, August 3, 1997

Williams: I never gave up hope

Trindad Express

A HAPPY and relieved Trinidad and Tobago wicket-keeper David Williams said yesterday he never gave up the hope of representing the West Indies in Test cricket.

"I never gave up. I went into every season playing to the best of my ability and left the rest up to God." Williams who many believe to be the best in the Caribbean, was the only wicket keeper named in a party of 15 for Pakistan and Sharjah later this year.

Williams, who will turn 34 during the first week of the tour in November, has earned a recall to the team at the expense of Junior Murray and Courtney Browne. He played in three Test matches before being dropped following the 1992-93 Australian tour.

Williams said that after watching the performances of the two men who had kept him out of the team over the past season, he felt that there was a chance he would earn a recall.

He said he was eagerly looking forward to the job. "It's good to know the selectors have some faith in me even after all this time," said Williams.

"I am looking forward to doing my best on the tour and repaying the faith so many people had in me. While I was out of the team, I just kept enjoying my game, playing the best I could and left the rest to God." Williams said there was a time he felt his career had ended. "I thought I might have missed it as so much time had passed, but the two who were given the chance played so badly, I felt that I must have been in the running for this tour."

Williams was expected to leave Trinidad yesterday for New York where he will represent his local club Sims in a tournament.

"I have not stopped playing so that there really is no need to worry about my form. It's there. I will just continue to do what I have been doing for the past years and that is to play to the best of my ability." Also expressing an opinion on the recall of Williams and Phil Simmons was Rangy Nanan, chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago selection panel. Nanan said he was happy for the pair.

"The selectors have shown faith in their class and ability." Dissatisfied with the form of wicket keepers Junior Murray and Courtney Browne, the West Indies recalled Trinidadian David Williams for the tour to Pakistan from October 28 to December 10.

Also on the squad, led by Jamaican Courtney Walsh are Trinidadians Phil Simmons, Mervyn Dillon, Brian Lara and Ian Bishop.

Meantime, Trinidadians Suruj Ragoonath , Nigel Francis, and Dinanath Ramnarine have been included in the West Indies "A" team for the tour of South Africa from November 21 to January 14.

Teenager Ramnaresh Sarwan of Guyana is also among the three young batsmen chosen.

THE TEAMS -

West Indies - Courtney Walsh (capt), Sherwin Campbell, Stuart Williams, Philo Wallace, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara, Carl Hooper, Roland Holder, Phil Simmons, David Williams, Ian Bishop, Curtly Ambrose, Franklyn Rose, Mervyn Dillon, Rawl Lewis.

West Indies "A" - Jimmy Adams (capt), Leon Garrick, Suruj Ragoonath, Robert Samuels, Floyd Reifer, Wavell Hinds, Laurie Williams, Ricky Hoyte, Nixon Mc Lean, Cameron Cuffy, Reon King, Nigel Francis, Pedro Collins, Dinanath Ramnarine, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)