An Introduction to the Player Diaries

Chris Gayle has become a major name in One Day International cricket. He is a big, imposing batsman who takes bowlers on. Cricket fans will know that One Day cricket demands a batsman at the top of the order who can get runs on the board quickly and start positively. Gayle is not just a destructive batsman; he is a useful bowler having taken 139 wickets in 159 one day games. But it is his batting that is what makes him one of the most exciting players to watch at the moment; his selection in the World XI last year to play Australia was a testament to his quality.

The West Indies team are a good bet for this World Cup. They have played some great One Day cricket over the last few years and do have the batting line up to compete with the big boys. Indeed, when you look at the averages for players like Gayle, Sarwan and Lara it is noticeable that many of the West Indian side have fared very well against Australia and Pakistan.

Ramnaresh Sarwan is now the regular vice captain, the right hander has been impressive enough to have been officially ranked the best batsman in One Day International cricket and to have won the ICC Player of the Tournament when the West Indies took the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004. He has not yet found an avenue to overcome his inability to resist the sometimes ill-executed hook shot which has brought his downfall much to the ire of fans and pundits alike. Sarwan’s stature as one of the premier West Indies batsman of the day though is unquestioned and his statistics do reflect the quality that he brings to the crease. After over 50 tests Sarwan has accumulated just under 4000 runs at an average that is always hovering over the 40 mark. He has eight test hundreds and 23 fifties in addition to his two ODI tons and 16 fifties.

Denesh Ramdin: After coming through the junior ranks with high praise and a solid debut season of regional cricket Ramdin broke into the senior squad as the selectors looked to youth to fill the wicket keeping breach left by the brigade of keepers on the wrong side of 30. A nifty gloveman, his work behind the stumps, on the strength of his lightening quick legs, is clean and thorough while he offers forthright stroke play with the bat which was best displayed when he took on the rampaging Australians in late 2005 for his second half century. Though only 20, Ramdin has impressed numerous aficionados, notably the famed Aussie wicketkeeper Ian Healy with whom he has done much work with. In a few short seasons of first class cricket he has moved into the slot of specialist batsman for Trinidad and Tobago, having already registered two regional hundreds (107 &125).