After waiting six years and five months to once again represent the West Indies at the Test level, Veerasammy Permaul did not disappoint, grabbing his maiden five-wicket haul, a feat he is overwhelmed on achieving.
The 32-year-old left-arm spinner, bagged 5-35 against Sri Lanka in the ongoing second Test at Galle, Sri Lanka to help bundle out the hosts for 204.
After the close of the second day, Permaul said: “I’m very overwhelmed by getting my first Test five-wicket haul. I think over the years I’ve been working hard to get back into the team and now it really paid off.”
‘Gunner,’ as he is commonly called, disclosed that it was his firm belief in God that kept him persistent and pushed him harder and harder to make his return to the field.
He revealed that he was confident that the chance would come again but didn’t know when.
“Well first of all, I tried to adjust to the conditions, to see what pace is good for the wicket and I think I had adjusted, control and try to spin the ball as much as possible and that really brought me success.”
The Albion Cricket Club spinner worked in tandem with fellow left-arm spinner, Jomel Warrican, who ended with 4-50 as the West Indies fought to get back into the series after their first test defeat.
“I think Wari [Warrican] was bowling very well at the other end. I think he was the one controlling the batsmen, the scoring rate and I think that really helped me bowling tight at one end and attacking at the next end and that really is a good partnership,” said Permaul of the partnership between the two left-arm orthodox spinners.
Permaul reasoned that moving forward, it would be key for West Indies to remain consistent with their bowling effort. He pointed out that the team should not go experimenting in order to get wickets but rather be patient and look to create opportunities.
Since the introduction of the Franchise System in the West Indies domestic set up, Permaul has been instrumental in the Guyana Jaguars team winning the competition outright in five of the past six seasons.
He has played 121 first-class matches, picking up 536 wickets including seven 10-wicket hauls and 29 five-wicket hauls.
