Deonarine : Interview

Question :

There were Rohan Kanhai and Sonny Ramadhin and Alvin Kallicharran to start with,

but of late, every second West Indian cricketer seems to be of Indian origin.

How do you explain that ?

Deo: People are encouraging their children to come out and play cricket now, and that's increased after Twenty20 became popular.

Not only Indians, people from all cultures and races are encouraged to play sport, and cricket in particular.

I think in terms of salaries, it's become more lucrative also, so that's a motivator.

With kids of Indian origin, of course, it was always popular but it has become more serious now.

question :

Maybe because the number of role models is increasing - Shiv Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan

and others?

deo:Yes, but I think the bigger reason is Twenty20 cricket. That has made a big difference.

Everyone wants to be involved with Twenty20 cricket now.

The World T20 win last year must have made a huge difference - it reminded us that West Indians still play cricket!

Q :The popular perception, however, is that West Indies are a great T20 team
but not good enough in other formats .

deo : I think we are starting to handle all the formats pretty well now.
There was a lull in West Indies cricket for a while, but it's changing.
CPL - we didn't have a tournament like that back home.
There's Chris Gayle and there's Sunil Narine as well.
Lot of players were waiting for an opportunity like this.
That's helped Caribbean cricket in a larger sense as well.

Q.Is Test cricket taken seriously enough?

deo : Yes, absolutely. All forms of the game are taken seriously and they are taken seriously in all

the islands. Most of the players might be specialists in Twenty20 but guys coming up,

like many of the boys in this (West Indies A) team, are taking all formats very seriously.

It's a good sign.

Q. This A team series - how much of what you guys do here will be with an eye on the :

Test series against India?


deo : Definitely players would like to step ahead and go to the senior level.

We are trying to win this series of course, but I will be looking at this series as an opportunity

to go to the higher level, to the highest level.

That's what West Indies A is about.

Q. Narsingh, your international career has been a stop-start affair. You have played 14 Tests,

which is good, but your average is under 30, which isn't so good.

How would you sum it up?


deo : I have been in and out of the West Indies squad. I've played a few good innings;

I got a chance in Australia and made a few runs and then I scored some runs against

South Africa as well. Yeah, I haven't done as well as I should have but in first-class cricket,

I've been pretty consistent. It's not outstanding, but it's not bad.

I've realised that the selectors have a job to do and you have to put the runs on the board

if you want to be selected.

Q. It does seem like you are bracketed as a days' cricket specialist ...


deo : I am looked at as a Test cricketer but I look at myself as someone who can handle

all forms of the game. I need some opportunities.

Hopefully, when I get it, I will rise again and grab it with both hands and put the right scores

on the board.

Q. Narsingh, is a spinner  (with 19 Test wickets).

When spinners come to India, there is always a fair bit to learn because of India's spin tradition.

Any such plans?

deo :I do take my bowling quite seriously and when I do get a chance, I always pick up wickets.

I always look at the television when a great bowler is bowling and try to pick things from their

finger and wrist actions. We all keep learning. When it comes to spin, you learn about variations

and pace and flight ... let's see who we meet on this tour.

Q.Let's talk about 'A' cricket - the India A team has been playing a whole lot of cricket

in recent times.

West Indies could do with a more hectic 'A' schedule, couldn't they ?

deo: I think, yeah ... the more you play, the more you improve.

I am extremely happy to get back into the A side and hopefully this will help me get a chance

in the Test series. As players, we certainly hope for this sort of thing and look forward to it.

It's always good for the players.

But it's different in the West Indies and in India.