PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Barbadian Jonathan Carter says he feels under no pressure to live up to expectations of being an all-rounder, after producing some golden spells during the just concluded unofficial three-Test series against India A.
The left-handed Carter came to regional attention with his positive, self-assured batting but shone with the ball as a brisk medium pacer, taking 10 wickets in the to help West Indies A to a 2-1 series win.
“People who know me know that I enjoy cricket and totally enjoy being on the cricket field. From very young I always enjoyed batting and when I’m not batting I would go and bowl and sometimes I would keep wicket,” said the 24-year-old.
“As I progressed I continued to do all three and I still do all three. My main role is a batsman and I work really hard at my batting to get better and make major contributions for the team.
“When we went into the first match with two pacers and two spinners I knew that I might be asked to do a job as a back-up bowler so I prepared myself for that.”
He performed the role of third seamer admirably, taking career-best figures of five for 63 in the first innings of the opening “Test” at Kensington Oval.
Carter was also impressive in the first innings of the final “Test” in St Lucia, grabbing three for 67 to help limit India to 230 in their first innings.
His dismissal of the dangerous Rohit Sharma was especially memorable, the right-hander shouldering arms to one that swung and seeing his stumps rattled.
“I have been doing a lot of bowling for my club team in Barbados, so I would say I was on some form with the ball ahead of the matches against India,” Carter said.
“Keeping is my ‘third’ skill, something I do to help out. I enjoy fielding, especially close to the wicket, and to me keeping comes naturally.”
He finished with 128 runs in the series, including an aggressive 74 in the second innings of the second “Test” in St Vincent which help set up Windies A’s series-levelling victory.
Carter praised the Caribbean side’s performance, noting they had played purposeful cricket and stuck to their plans.
“We played well…we played extremely well. We were excellent with the ball and kept getting wickets at crucial stages in their innings,” he said.
“We always had a plan of attack and that was to build pressure and then look for wickets. We got early wickets in every innings and that set them back every time.”
