(WICB) ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Christopher Barnwell said he was delighted to be heading off to the Indian Premier League in April, but wants to ensure that he is viewed as more than a Twenty20 basher.
The Guyana all-rounder said that he will be using the Regional Super50 and 4-Day Tournaments to further demonstrate his credentials as a well-rounded cricketer.
“After getting a good start in the Caribbean T20, it’s important that I continue in the 4-Day and RS50 and that’s my main objective,” said Barnwell, who was recently auctioned to the Royal Challengers Bangalore for US $50,000.
“At the start of the year, one of my main goals was to make it back to the West Indies team, and after a good run in the CT20, I’ll be looking to do well and hopefully catch the eyes of the selectors for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe.”
Guyana’s opened the Super50 on Thursday against Leeward Islands at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, where they will begin the 4-Day against the same opponent on Saturday.
The 26-year-old right-hander has featured in four T20 Internationals for West Indies and recently added the Guyana vice-captaincy to his resume.
Barnwell said though he is satisfied with his exploits in T20 cricket, his ultimate aim is to produce with bat and ball in all three formats of the game.
“People have always been saying I’m a T20 player, but I’m a more capable batsman and all-rounder who could play all three versions of the game, so I just want to go out there and get the opportunity to bat long and continue with the same form that I’m having at the moment,” he said.
Barnwell has had an exhilarating start to 2013. In a crucial play-off match against Jamaica in the CT20, Barnwell upstaged destructive century-maker Chris Gayle to pilot Guyana home with an impressive and mature half-century.
Then on Sunday, Barnwell was added to the Royal Challengers Bangalore roster which features Gayle as their star attraction.
He will be the third Guyanese – after Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan – to join the IPL.
