Guyana’s premier fast bowler Ronsford Beaton says he hopes his selection for the 2013-2014 West Indies Sagicor High Performance Centre programme will pave the way for a call up to the West Indies team next year.’
The 20-year-old quick bowler was born on the volcanic island of Montserrat, but grew up in the county of Essequibo.
Beaton represented the West Indies U19 team in a youth Test and two youth ODIs against Australia in Dubai in April 2011 and against the USA in Florida in early July 2011.
In July 2011 the pacer was named captain of the Guyana Under-19 team which participated in the West Indies youth championships in Guyana.
The following year he represented the West Indies U19 team in the Quadrangular Series in Visakhapatnam, India, and then in August 2012 he played for the West Indies U19 team again in the 2012 ICC U19 World Cup held in Australia.
Beaton took his form and talents into this year’s regional four-day and Super50 tournaments where he was one of the standout fast bowlers in the tournaments.
In the longer format of the tournament he played six matches picking up 16 wickets at an average of 30.43. His best bowling in that format was
6-73 against the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) at the Providence National Stadium.
In the 50 over format he picked up nine wickets at an average of 21.66 from five matches.
Stabroek Sport caught up with Beaton on Thursday and the speedster said that he was overwhelmed by his selection for the HPC programme’s.
“I hope to make use of the facilities, coaches and the entire experience as I pursue my dream of playing for the West Indies in which I will put my best foot forward and earn that call up,” he declared.
When asked about his performance in the Regional tournament Beaton said:” My regional four-day form was good, but it was not to my expectations as I wanted to have more wickets under my belt.”
He said that playing the Super50 and four-day matches were “exhausting.
”It was a bit difficult to switch formats so constantly while changing venues at the same time. It really test’s your endurance as a cricketer. “I still managed to bowl well but personally I just wanted to pick up more wickets and will use my stint at HPC to step up my game,” he added.
Beaton concluded by saying that he hopes to be selected for the West Indies `A’ team which will take on the touring Sri Lankans next month and plans on utilizing his time at Sagicor to “crank up” his pace, better his line and length, while adapting himself to play in different conditions.
The squad will be encamped from June 1 at the Sagicor High Performance facilities at the University of the West Indies in Barbados and will conclude in December.
