Guyana T20 batting star Johnathan Foo said he plans to use the 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (HCPL) as a way of resuscitating his Professional career in his quest to again represent Guyana and (with Any luck) the West Indies.
Yesterday Seabrook Sport caught with the 25-year-old who gained popularity after smashing a 17-ball 42 against Barbados in the inaugural Caribbean T20 tournament in 2010.
Foo was recently drafted by the tournament’s inaugural champs, Jamaica Tallulah’s and while years have passed since the Berbice-born player earned his senior call-up, a mature Foo opened up about his plans for CPL, Guyana and the West Indies.
“I’m very happy to be drafted for the 2016 CPL. I was waiting for this opportunity a while now and it’s actually here,” said an elated Foo who added that his selection was indeed “The beginning of great things to come.” Following his T20 heroics in 2010, Foo was called to the West Indies A team to play against India in October of the same year and made his 50 over debut for the National team the next year.
Foo, who has endured his fair share of ups and downs over the years, recently bounced back onto the scene during last year end’s Local Franchise League (LFL) 50 over competition where he finished as the leading run-scorer, clobbering 359 runs in eight innings with two fifties and a highest of 125.
With his part-time off-spin, Foo also snatched up 17 wickets as he ended as the best all-round performer in the tournament. He was then called up for the two Guyana Jaguars trial matches where he scored 66 and 28 but failed to make the final cut when the Jags selected their quota of players ahead of the 2016 Nagico Super 50 tournament.
Despite his non-selection, Foo admitted that he was at a point in his career where he will be doing everything both on and off the field to ensure he achieves his goals. “I’ve been training very hard especially with my fitness and gym work; I’ve been batting as usual but I was paying more attention to my fitness. I was very disappointed after not
being selected for the Guyana one day squad but I didn’t let that bother me.
“I guess that was the best 14 the selectors could have come up with so I went back to training while keeping my fingers crossed for CPL. I think it’s a great opportunity for me to be a part of the CPL and the ball is in my court now, I want to stay up there, play professional cricket, maintain my spot and make the most out of it,” said Foo.
With big names like Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Kumar Sangakarra, Shakib Al-Hasan and others in the Tallawahs make-up, the former Guyana Under-19 player said he’s enthusiastic about his stint and the learning experiences which lie ahead.
“Yes, actually I’m really excited to rub shoulders with the most dangerous batsman in T20 cricket (Gayle) and the other superstars from around the world. I’m positive that I will learn a lot from these guys and I can also bring something special to the team and put out some great performance which will benefit both me and my team.”
Known for his tremendous power-hitting ability but judged mostly by his T20 credentials and sometimes labelled as a slugger, the right-hander has transformed himself into a reliable middle-order batsman who has shown that he can score hundreds in the longest format of the game without curbing his aggressive tendencies. Foo was seemingly pumped up about playing any and all formats for his country but said he eyeing a specific spot in the West Indies One Day International (ODI) team.
“I don’t want to say that I just want to play T20 because I think I’m a genuine all-round cricketer and I know to myself I have the ability to play all forms of the game, but as the T20 opportunity has presented itself right now I will grab it with both hands. My aim is to play for the West Indies. I was in the A team in 2010 so I know what that feeling is like so I will work hard on my game and put in every amount of effort to be back there.
“I think this CPL is a perfect opportunity for me since the Caribbean T20 is no more. Hopefully I can work hard and get into the Guyana one day set up so that I can be eligible for the West Indies ODI team.”
