West Indies middle – order batsman Vishaul Singh who was left out of the Caribbean Test side on their recent tour to the United Kingdom after three appearances against Pakistan at home says he is keen on using the upcoming “A” series against Sri Lanka to force his way back into the West Indies side.
Singh was on Tuesday named in the West Indies “A” team to face Sri Lanka and has the added responsibility of being named vice-captain.
Sri Lanka will play three four-day games and three List A matches, beginning October 11 in Jamaica.
“Well, this series is very important for me to keep my name in contention for a senior team place as these series are usually used as a marker for senior team call-ups,” the 28–year-old said of his ambitions when contacted by Stabroek Sports.
The left-hander made his test debut this year against Pakistan after a prolific 2015 – 16 first-class season where he churned out 712 runs at an average of better than 50. On that basis of his heavy scoring in the regional competition he was selected to tour Sri Lanka on his maiden West Indies “A” tour.
His returns on the Asian soil were impressive where he managed to post his career-best 161 in the second match of that tour at the famous Pallekele International Stadium.
He then backed up those performances with a shimmering unbeaten 135 against Pakistan in a tour match that preceded the Test series for which he was selected. Unfortunately, he subsequently lost his place after a string of low scores.
Singh, who hones the ideal appetite for Test cricket with sound powers of concentration and his ability to play spin, the hallmark of his game added that he has been working on a few areas to reclaim his Test spot.
“There have been a number of things [that] I have been working on but most of all are [my] strength and fitness.”
Quizzed about his international outing, the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) player recounted that the experience of playing Test cricket has helped him to adapt more quickly to changing conditions and opposition tactics which should put him in good stead for the upcoming assignment.
In preparation for what may very well be a career-defining series, the left-hander indicated that he has been fine-tuning his craft in the nets and would have played two franchise games in the ongoing Guyana Cricket Board/ Jaguars franchise league.
However, he confessed that he would have loved to have the opportunity to play two more rounds but has been prevented from doing since he’s nursing a finger injury that he doesn’t want to risk inflating.
Touching on his leadership credentials and what he will be offering, he responded by embracing the philosophy of leading from the front to influence the team’s overall performance through his own.
