Ramnaresh Sarwan’s recent exploits at the just concluded Test series against England has solidified his place among cricket greats including Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara.

The men, all considered legends, all averaged over 100 with at least three centuries, whilst scoring over 600 runs in a Test series. Twenty-eight-year-old Sarwan joined that elite group after he scored 626 runs at an average of 104.33, including three centuries. His highest score was 291.

Sarwan was in top form throughout the series giving West Indian fans across the Diaspora a glimpse of skill with the bat and his vast potential. Though his ability has never been questioned; at times his resolve, discipline and concentration may have been and may have caused previous downfalls.

Free from injuries and any distractions related to positions of authority in the team, Sarwan put on a master class of batsmanship worthy of the greats that came before him. Other batsmen such as India’s Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis of South Africa might have done it before but Sarwan married colossal run scoring with elegant batsmanship that made the purists purr with delight.

Centuries at Sabina Park and the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) were separated by a top innings of 94, which ended with a rash shot, as though he intended to get to his century with one shot. No doubt, he would have been remorseful after his dismissal. But a gem of an innings, his 291 at Kensington Oval, Barbados, a ground deemed the mecca of Caribbean cricket, signalled his entry into the top class of West Indies batting legends.

Following a fluent century in an under-13 match and his unbeaten 84 in his debut Test innings against Pakistan, many predicted that Sarwan was destined for greatness, though at the time it may have been premature.

His beautiful stroke play and excellent footwork caught the eye of regional selectors and he was soon a member of many A teams, whether playing at home or overseas. But despite his enormous talent, Sarwan struggled to rack up the scores even though he always looked at ease and assured at the wicket. He never scored heavily in age group cricket and his classy century for the Regional Under-19 team against Pakistan, made also at the Kensington Oval, would serve as a reminder.

Sarwan’s breakthrough came in 2000 when in a President’s XI game against the visiting Zimbabwe team he scored a century in each innings. A classy knock against the visiting Pakistanis catapulted him into the West Indies team a few weeks later.

He was making a successful tour in England but tragedy struck when his best friend died at age 19. Sarwan returned to Guyana for her burial and went back to England to complete the tour. He even shared a promising stand with Brian Lara in the final Test at the Oval days later when he topped the averages for the visiting West Indies team.

Since then, Sarwan has had significant highs such as his match-winning century against Australia in the record breaking 4th innings run chase of 418 at the ARG, followed by his heroics in the World Cup in South Africa the next year. Twenty-eight matches and 49 innings after his debut, Sarwan got his maiden Test ton, 119 against Bangladesh in December 2002.

However, he had been challenged by a number of serious injuries in 2007. He was also humiliated when he was dropped for Runako Morton in Pakistan in 2006. An excellent series against Sri Lanka followed by a solid series against Australia was preceded by a poor series in New Zealand which frustrated fans. But Sarwan’s fortunes soon improved. In the series against England at times he single-handedly took the fight to the visitors, ensuring that the West Indies maintained their 1-0 lead to emerge victorious after nine years.

Sarwan is on the cusp of greatness and cricket fans region-wide are hopeful that he goes from strength to strength as his fortunes largely determine the immediate fate of West Indies cricket. Fans hope that by the end of this England tour in which he has displayed ripping form in the ODIs to date, complimenting his Test form, he will have secured his place in the history of West Indies cricket.