At 26, Guyanese Ramnaresh Sarwan has been appointed the 29th West Indies Test captain at a time when the game in the region is in serious trouble both on a off the field.
Some feel the talented right-hander has been given the poisoned chalice of West Indies cricket while his critics claim his sometimes extraverted lifestyle is not best suited to the most challenging position in West Indies cricket. But those who really know the elegant batsman will quickly tell you that Ronnie, as he is known to his friends, loves a challenge and has little time for negative people.
He is as heart broken as the fans when West Indies lose but no longer loses sleep over those who question his commitment to the game. “When you are not performing everyone questions how you play, your commitment and what you do in your private life and I guess that's understandable. It hurts when we lose games and maybe everyone should take some of the blame…the players, coaching staff and the administrators,” the new Skipper stated, while relaxing at his Eccles home on Thursday evening.
“This is an important position and I take it very seriously. I feel my biggest challenge is to get the players, coaching staff and the administrators to look in one direction….to work together as one big team for the betterment of the game…..I think that will be a big step in our moving forward as a team and improving the image of West Indies cricket,” Sarwan opined.
Appointed skipper after Brian Lara's sudden retirement, Sarwan, who has played 65 Tests and 124 ODIs since his debut in 2000, was tipped to get the job even if Lara was selected for the English tour which begins next week. Trinidad and Tobago's Daren Ganga was his main competitor.
Unlike some past captains, Sarwan enjoys a good relationship both on and off the field with his teammates and noted that he was overwhelmed by several calls from the players when he was named skipper.
“Most of the guys have already called to congratulate me and pledge their support. I really appreciated it and it makes me feel special. In fact I was speaking to Daren (Ganga) only recently and it is good to know that we are all going to England as one united team.”
It was rumored that internal problems between the players and Lara's leadership style at times affected play on the field. Sarwan declined to comment on internal team issues but suggested that sometimes people make things out to be more than they really are.
“Brian was so mentally tough, that's one of the things I admired about him. No one is perfect and I guess looking back there were things he might have done differently. But he was truly a great batsman and he will be missed. As a leader he was his own man…he took risks, sometimes they worked, sometimes they did not and I am sure that he will always be remembered as a superstar,” Sarwan disclosed.
Although he has acted as stand-in skipper during his tenure as Lara's deputy from 2003, Sarwan says that being appointed means you need to show more leadership qualities, be an example to the players both on and off the field and lead from the front at all times.
“I have been fortunate to have played at youth level with most of the guys which makes it easier now we are on the same Test team. The guys also have a good relationship with the junior players and since the younger guys have seen me play when they were 16 year-olds, they look up to me. This makes it easier for me to help guide them in the right direction,” Sarwan informed.
Some worry that the captaincy could affect his batting while others fear his social activities could affect his captaincy. Sarwan, the leading West Indian batsman in the recent CWC2007, feels neither of the two will happen.
“Yeah, I know certain things will have to change now that I am captain. I am fully aware of my responsibilities. I will continue to enjoy my cricket and my life but there is no way that after all this hard work, I will allow my social life to affect the team or my cricket,” he assured.
The Guyana captain and number sixth ranked ODI batsman in the world feels the responsibility of captaincy could also help with his sometimes impetuous stroke play.
“I have been known to play some rash shots at times and I am confident that the added responsibility will help my batting especially now that Brian is no longer in the team and we all have to step up and play our part,” Sarwan added.
The players' aversion to training has also been blamed as a reason for their demise and the team is presently without a trainer after the last one resigned. But Sarwan feels that's also exaggerated.
“As I said, some things are made out to be worse than they are. But I do agree there is room for improvement in the area of fitness. As Captain I fully support a properly structured fitness program and we will have a fitness trainer in time for the England tour.
There are so many reasons why we have not performed as we should. I would like the players to be themselves, to be comfortable and we need to fully understand what it means to consistently perform well.”
“Clive Lloyd's involvement has helped and I feel if he tours with us it will benefit us in a big way. He is respected and genuinely works hard to help us with various aspects of our game,” Sarwan pointed out.
The former Guyana Under-19 skipper, who was surprisingly overlooked as Guyana senior captain to Shivnaine Chanderpaul even when he was West Indies Vice-Captain feels his strength as a leader is his good communication skills with his players, ability to observe the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition, his openness, honesty and belief in his players.
“I have sat down with the West Indies Board members and they have said they are looking for a team that puts out effort and shows commitment to West Indies cricket. Believe me, we do know how important cricket is to our people and we will try our best to help restore our cricket to where it used to be,” Sarwan promised.
When asked how long did he think it would take to get West Indies cricket to where it was in the 1980's? The seventh Guyanese test skipper thought for a long time before answering.
“That's a hard question to answer Sean. I can't give a time limit. By the end of my career I hope I can say that we are progressing and are among the top three teams. If that happens I will be happy. It's got to be a gradual progress starting from now with this new generation of players. Brian has had his time and made his mark but now it is up to us to carry on and make our fans proud once again. We need plenty of support from everyone. We have the talent but we need proper systems to develop that talent from the youth level right up to Test,” Sarwan stressed.
Touching on the England tour, the skipper said he was optimistic that his side can do well in the four Tests, three ODIs and two 20/20 matches. “It should be a tough tour. We have not been doing well recently but if we work hard together as a team and perform to our ability consistently we should do well,” the garrulous young man stated.
Opener Chris Gayle and pacer Corry Collymore are among Sarwan's closest friends off the field and he said he will depend a lot on the two, along with veteran Chanderpaul, to play leading roles if the Caribbean side is to upset the host.
“Gayle and Collymore can both lead from the front. Gayle can take on any attack while Collymore's experience should serve us well in the English conditions. Shiv is the old boy in the side and loves batting long. Everyone has got their responsibility, not just batting or bowling, but fielding too. Daren, Bravo and Ramdin are some of the senior guys I will be depending on to help guide the younger ones,” the Cancer born, who also bowls leg-spin, said.
Much has been made of no specialist spinner being selected for the tour but Sarwan reminded that at present there is no spinner in the region who could be consistently destructive at the highest level. “Yes we need a spinner for balance but we just can't pick one just to have one. They must earn their spot in the side and I hope we can soon produce a quality spinner” he said.
Sarwan is a member of the selection panel and said that he was looking forward to getting more involved in West Indies cricket as his time as West Indies captain increase. Sarwan is eager to succeed in a position in which several former skippers in recent times (including country-men Carl Hooper and Chanderpaul) have failed. How much support and authority he receives from the WICB will be critical to the team's success.
With Ganga his deputy for the England tour, at least he should have a level head and an honest character to turn to for tactical and moral support.