Eon Hooper has played only a single first-class game for the Guyana Jaguars but the 29-year-old off-spinning all-rounder is hungry to make a comeback.
Hooper made his debut back in 2016 when he finished the first-ever local three-day league as the leading wicket taker with 42 wickets playing for Upper Corentyne. He made his debut against Jamaica but went wicketless from 19 overs and made 12 runs batting at number nine.
Since then, Hooper has been the backbone of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club in Guyana and Barrackpore United, which he plays for in the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board National League.
“Of course I am hungry to play back for my country!” Hooper declared while adding, “I see myself as a more matured cricketer who keeps learning and working hard every day.”
Favouring the longer format, Hooper noted that he is working “extremely hard” on his fitness and has, over the years dedicated himself more to crafting his trade in order to achieve his goals.
The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club captain reflected on his first match at the senior level and reckoned that his emotions got the better of him which led to him being nervous.
However with that behind him, he believes he knows how to better handle himself and to play to the best of his abilities.
“Back when I made my debut I would say I was a bit nervous but now I see what it’s like, I’ve played a lot of first-division cricket with a lot of pressure and that has helped me to develop the confidence to go out there and play to the best of my abilities,” Hooper stated.
Hooper suggested that he has a lot to bring to the team with his off-spin but acknowledged that he has to perform well in order to be considered.
“There aren’t a lot of off-spinners around but nevertheless I still have to work hard to come out on top and justify if I am to be given a chance,” he said.
“From then to now, I’ve grown a lot, I’ve been working hard on my batting and when the time comes to get a score or breakthroughs, I always try to put in the work and give the team more than 100 percent always.”
Recently, Hooper has taken two five-wicket hauls and scored a match-winning half century for Barrackpore before the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic forced the season to come to an indefinite closure. Hooper pointed out that while he is following the guidelines laid out by the Ministry of Health, he has been maintaining his training at home.
“I’m disappointed the season has come to a close and we don’t know if or when it is going to start back but I’m happy to be home safe with my family… this has not stopped me from my training, I’m still putting in the work, doing my exercises at home and maintaining my fitness,” he said.
