da premier bet： Were it not for Brian Lara, this little Guyanese would havemade all the headlines even though the West Indies lostanother overseas tour in Sri Lanka
Barry Alleyne27-Dec-2001Were it not for Brian Lara, this little Guyanese would havemade all the headlines even though the West Indies lostanother overseas tour in Sri Lanka.Ramnaresh Sarwan, mature beyond his years yet still veryyoung in the game, showed the cricket world exactly what hehas to offer. It proved to be plenty.Born on the little island of Wakenaam in Essequibo, Sarwancrossed the river on this tour, and the big stick thatpropelled him across was a consistent bat when others werefalling like ninepins around him.After a rough tour of Australia a year ago, the diminutivebatsman has now secured his spot in the team’s middle order.And he owes a lot to coach and countryman, Roger Harper.He helped me a lot with my technique, and that’s why I wasable to show the improvement, Sarwan said of the former WestIndies allrounder and vice captain.I’m very pleased with my performances on the tour, eventhough I didn’t score any hundreds and was in position to doso. Sarwan had 318 runs at an average of 53 in the threeTests.Still, he reflects on his career so far, and realises he hasa long way to go. He’s been run out five times in his youngcareer, and admitted Saturday it was on his mind.I’m not worried about it, but I realise what’s beenhappening and that I have to work on it.I’ve come this far through discipline and self-belief, so Iwon’t let it worry me, Sarwan told reporters as the teamarrived from another disappointing tour.I’ve got so close [to a maiden century], but I’m notcounting. When I get into the 80s and get out, I’m reallydisappointed, much more than if I’m in the 40s or 50s andget run out, the Guyanese added.He admitted he would have to look at the scenario seriouslyas the team prepares for a tour of Pakistan next month,since he didn’t want the trend to continue.I don’t want to set the records for the most run outswithout a century, he said with a smile.Sarwan added that he was able to excel in the Test series,even though he wasn’t always comfortable facing Sri Lanka’sspin ace Muttiah Muralitharan and left-arm seamer ChamindaVaas, by constantly getting from Lara.It’s always an honour to be in the middle with Brian. Herelaxes you, and even though the runs flow freely from hisbat, he exchanges the strike and allows you to also getinvolved. He was a great help to me.Sarwan said that captain Carl Hooper was always availablefor advice, and also helped him along the way.Pretty riskyHe also helped me with my technique, and now I feel a lotmore comfortable when I’m out in the middle.Regarding the forthcoming overseas tour against Pakistan,Sarwan did express some doubt. It’s pretty risky if we haveto go there now, but I won’t commit my mind to that now.Sarwan claimed that facing Sri Lanka’s ace spinnerMuralitheran was the toughest aspect of the tour for him.I have to admit that even though I scored against himsometimes, I was never very comfortable because he does agood job of swinging the ball both ways, he said. It turnsso big from middle to off. It was a real experience for me,and showed me I have to work on a few things to improveagainst spin bowling.