HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC – West Indies batting star Ramnaresh Sarwan has admitted he considered quitting international cricket recently but says he now intends to fight for his spot in the regional side.
The last year for the stylish Guyanese right-hander has been a turbulent one, starting when he was overlooked by the West Indies Cricket Board for a central contract last September and then axed for the ensuing Test tour of Sri Lanka.
“I did actually [consider quitting], probably as recently as eight months ago, because everything was getting frustrating,” the 31-year-old told the Royal Gazette here.
“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.
“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 remains one of the most senior players in the West Indies squad, having already scored 5842 runs from 87 Tests.
He has counted 15 Test centuries but his average has now slipped to 40.01 after a lean spell that has seen him go without a single half-century in 13 innings over a two-year span.
In the recent three-Test series against India, he was axed for the final match after scoring just 29 runs in the first four innings of the tour. “The past two-and-a-half years it’s been disappointing. 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,” he explained. “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. “I think that runs and wickets play the game. 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.”
Sarwan, who averages 43.41 from 173 One-Day Internationals, said he was also eyeing the regional one-day tournament later this year as a chance to impress the selectors again. “I’ve got another two months before the regional tournament starts. It’s a tournament I’m looking forward to and I want to show myself back in the regional tournament and get myself back into the West Indies team …” Sarwan noted.
