It’s Lara’s.
So said Veerasammy Permaul, who last week took his 500th wicket in first class cricket playing for the Guyana Jaguars against the Trinidad and Tobago red Force team at the National Stadium at Providence.
Now with 502 wickets from 116 first-class matches, Permaul cherishes the wicket of world record holder Brian Lara as his most prized wicket.
“I would say Brian Lara,” he told Stabroek Sports in an interview.
“In my second year of Regional Cricket I had him caught and bowled,” Permaul said of his most famous dismissal.
Exactly one year after making his debut, at the Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad he picked up the wicket of West Indies’ leading Test runs scorer, Lara, who had made 123 runs in the match.
During his uninterrupted illustrious career, Permaul said that the most memorable season for him, came when Guyana Jaguars won the first Professional Cricket League Championships. That season, Permaul ended with the most wickets, 67, at an average of 14.07. He also picked up his best bowling figures in an innings (8-26) as well as the match (12-101).
“I would say the first year we won the PCL championship, I think before that we were normally at the bottom of the table and I think from then our cricket raised and you can see we won five times straight,” he said.
Now, some 13 years into his career, Permaul, who has 26 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls, told Stabroek Sport, “First of all I want to thank God for this achievement. I’m overwhelmed! Over the years you can see I have been working hard and I am reaping the benefits.”
The left-arm spinner became only the fourth Guyanese to reach this milestone when Trinidad and Tobago Red Force wicketkeeper/batsman, Joshua Da Silva was caught by the safe pair of hands of Jaguars’ skipper Leon Johnson in the third round of the West Indies Championship. He joined Lance Gibbs (1024), Roger Harper (567) and Carl Hooper (555) as the other Guyanese to achieve this feat.
Of joining the elite group, Permaul declared! “I think it is a privilege to join such great players to represent Guyana and West Indies and I don’t have words to explain.”
The Albion player made his debut in January, 2007 against Windward Islands where he took 4-83 and upon reflection, stated, “When I first started I always say I wanted to meet 500 first-class wickets and it is here now and hopefully I can grow from strength to strength and get more in the future.”
Permaul acknowledged Vemen Walter as an integral part of his career, at the start of and throughout as well as his parents, coaches and players including Devendra Bishoo who is often dubbed his spin-twin.
He said that while he has achieved his goal, he has not yet set a new one but was optimistic about enjoying and playing the sport he loves.
He has since been acknowledged by the Guyana Cricket Board for his efforts and praised by former fast bowlers, Colin Stuart who is now the Territorial Development Officer, Esaun Crandon, Guyana Jaguars Head Coach and Rayon Griffith, West Indies Women’s Assistant Coach.
