For the past year, Vishal ‘Cheesy’ Singh and Rajendra ‘Rahul’ Chandrika have been doing what they know best – making runs at all levels of Guyana’s cricket.
Now, the 20-year-olds have their sights set on transforming their good form to the national team should they be selected when the Guyanese quartet of Shivnarine Chanderpaul Ramnaresh Sarwan, Travis Dowlin and Narsingh Deonarine, return to Australia to for the One-Day Series.
The right-handed Chandrika, a former WI youth player, and the left-handed Singh have been constantly reminding the selectors of their calibre, albeit in their contrasting styles, with impressive centuries.
The two batsmen have already scored centuries in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) three-day, first-division tournament that will be entering its fourth round when the new year comes around. They also scored centuries in the President’s Cup four-day tournament which merited them places on the national 21-man training squad for the upcoming WICB regional first class tournament.
However, they have not been named in the final 14 but are still in strong contention for a place if all four of the WI batsmen are called back for duty Down Under for the completion of the ODIs and Twenty20 series.
Following the conclusion of the only practice match for the national team after being encamped for a month, Stabroek Sport caught up with Chandrika and Singh.
MM: What factors have been responsible for your success throughout the year?
VS: The motivation is the national team. I have been putting in the hard work and the hard work is paying off at the moment.
RC: I think the hard work and training are responsible for my success; you have to be mentally fit to make the national team.
MM: Would you say at the moment that you are starting to mature as batsmen?
VS: Yes, definitely! I am starting to mature; you are starting to realize your role in Guyana’s cricket. Also your role as a batsman when you go out in the middle is also important because you have responsibilities. So, definitely I am maturing as a batsman and as a cricketer every day.
RC: I think basically you have to know what role you play in your team.
MM: Who have you been patterning your games after?
VS: I have not been patterning after anybody; I have my own style and coaches always tell you to be yourself. But sometimes you look at Shiv (Chanderpaul) and the temperament and style he has and you think if you can get to that level it would be good for your cricket.
RC: I think you have to have discipline. Everyone has their way and own style of how they go about their game. You look at a few cricketers and you learn something from them. I like Rahul Dravid because I think that he is disciplined on and off the field and when he is captaining India’s team; I like his style.
MM: What are your plans for the new year?
VS: Well, when the national camp resumes on January 4, I will continue to train hard and hopefully, see if the guys (the four WI players) are not available for the first or second round if I can get selected to the national team and continue the good work I have doing throughout the season.
RC: For the new year I intend to continue working hard and hopefully, make the squad when the senior players go back with the West Indies team. Apart from that, I will be working hard on my fitness so that when there is a tournament I will be fit and ready.
MM: Which were your most memorable centuries this year?
VS: For the past few months the most memorable would be my first Inter-County century against Essequibo. I missed out against Demerara on 97 after the game was called off. I had club hundreds before but that was first Inter-County hundred at the senior level.
RC: I think the one against Berbice in the Inter-County game was my most memorable. Against Berbice it is hard to make a century with the type of bowling the county has and that was my first senior hundred. I worked hard during that innings.
