Former West Indies Under-19 batsman, Kevlon Anderson is savoring a successful debut in the Georgetown Cricket Association and is enthusiastic about putting Police Sports Club into the final of the GISE/Star Party Rental/Trophy Stall first-division two-day tournament.
The 20-year-old, who is widely considered one of the more promising young batsmen regionally, was instrumental in Police’s push to the semi-final, scoring a century (106) in his first match against the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) and an unfinished 129 against Transport Sports Club, whom he had represented in a junior tournament a few years ago. In an exclusive interview with this publication, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club batsman said that he is anxious to play in the semi-final.
“I should say it’s my format of cricket and am always eager and hungry to go out there and get the job done for my team,” he said. Anderson will, however, have to wait a bit before he goes back on the field since cricket in both Berbice and Georgetown have been suspended due to the increase in COVID-19 cases locally.
When asked if he was disappointed that cricket is suspended once again having returned just two months now, he responded, “Not that much but I’d love to still be out there and playing but God has better plans due to deal with COVID and with the hold up in the game. I just have to continue working on my game.”
He expressed that coming from Berbice and now being exposed to a different environment in the capital city of Georgetown is beneficial towards his development as it gives two varying dynamics to his game.
The right-handed batsman said, “Well, basically, for me playing in Berbice and now in town it’s a different brand of cricket. I’ll say the guys here in town are more aggressive in the longer format and that’s just how they play their cricket whereas in Berbice you’ll find players are more defensive.”
Anderson, who hails from Fyrish Village, Corentyne, explained that it was a good feeling for him to come and get runs under his belt so soon but that was just testament of the hard work he has been putting in over the years.
The academy player showed his ability to contrast his style of play from being a patient batsman that is willing to grind and soak up deliveries to one that is attacking and can score off almost every delivery without taking unnecessary risks.
He revealed that it is all about sticking to the game plan and what is required of him whether it be to bat as long as possible or up the scoring rate.
“I’m working on my 360-degree game at the moment, like for instance, I am trying to score off each ball like in a one day game…ones and twos and put away bad balls. Since we started back training with the Academy, I’ve been working on it and even though I get a bad ball like a long hop, I play it,” he stated.
Anderson added, “Playing against [Gudakesh] Motie and others you know if he gives me a short ball I won’t hit it for six but try get a four so that’s just what am trying to control and whenever I get the opportunity again to play a one day game that’s already automatic for me because I find that in the past I soak up too many dot balls, then pressure myself and stray from my game plan and play big shots when my game is to find the gaps.”
The soft-spoken national youth player indicated that he does have aspirations of representing West Indies at the Test level but is cognizant of the stages he has to go through. For now he is laying the foundation and improving every day.
