By Calvin Roberts
Guyana’s latest Test player Sewnarine Chattergoon is ready to have a go at world champions Australia in the present Digicel home series against the West Indies.
Chattergoon was in the reckoning for a place in the Test team, but strained the biceps (brachu muscle) on his right arm just three days before the start of the training camp organized by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in Antigua which prevented him from taking part.
“I was really bent on playing against the Australians who are the number one team in the world. So, after the series against Sri Lanka, I did some overtime work on my fitness knowing that they are tough opponents and it was during the course of same, I picked up the injury,” he told Stabroek Sport in an exclusive interview.
“Like all sportsmen/women, injuries are a part of the game but it is how you deal with it that makes you a better person.
“Even though I was anxious to play against Australia like every other cricketer in the world would want to do, I had to bide my time, owing to the injury and wait,” the left-handed opening batsman added.
Chattergoon was called into the West Indies side after showing consistent form for West Indies `A’ in the home series against England `A’ in 2005-06.
He scored 107 in the second four-day match and 81 in the first one-day match before being sidelined by a leg injury.
But once again he got the selectors attention to play with the `bigger boys’ after making an accomplished 113 for Guyana against Trinidad and Tobago in Guyana’s opening match of the 2008 Carib Beers series at the Queen’s Park Oval and was included in the West Indies squad for the One-Day series against South Africa earlier this year.
This was two years after his first call up for the limited overs series against Zimbabwe where he got his highest score to date as a senior West Indies player, 54 not out in 2006.
“I try to be positive in everything I do, even my batting. When I walk to the middle, I forget about situations that may have arisen either before or during a match and focus on getting runs for my team whether it is Albion, Guyana or the West Indies.”
“Whenever I play for Guyana, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan two of our most senior players around today would give me some advice on batting and with any faults that I may have.
“They have been of tremendous help to me and I want to say thanks to these two along with all the others who have been there for me in some form or the other,” the soft-spoken Chattergoon said.
Chattergoon has recovered fully from his recent injury to the extent that he was included in the Albion team to contest the Berbice Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) TELENEC- sponsored 50 overs-a-side semifinal against Rose Hall Town scheduled for last weekend.
However, the match did not come off due to heavy rain.
“I got a programme from West Indies trainer C.J Clarke that aided me with my rehabilitation and also helped me recover quickly. Also I had some valuable batting practice during the past week and felt no pain whilst doing so, thus I was included to play in the semifinals which I was using as a tune-up as I am eager to get back into the squad for the third test.”
“I have been in constant contact with the selectors who have been calling me very often enquiring on my progress with the injury. But my first aim is to get into the squad then make the final XI for the third test in Barbados.”
The dapper left-hander, who was born in the village of Fyrish, East Bank Berbice and scored a memorable 119 for Guyana in the KFC Cup final against Barbados at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda in 2005, believes the West Indies can rebound in the present Test series against Australia.
“No one would have thought that at the end of the fourth day we would have been in the position we were, but unfortunately for us, Australia played like the true world champions that they are and won the game, but we can bounce back and level the series.”
Chattergoon has played two Test matches and is presently averaging 28.50 from an aggregate of 57 runs so far with a highest score of 46 against Sri Lanka.
If selected, Chattergoon would certainly be looking to get his first Test century against the mighty Australians. There would be no better way to signal his return to the Test scene for the West Indies.
