Rajendra Chandrika, the Guyana and West Indies Test opener is looking to make amends for his woeful series against Australia back in June and now has his sights set on wearing the maroon cap once more for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
During an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sports yesterday, the right-hander who is currently in Barbados doing some technical work with West Indies Head Coach Phil Simmons, said that 2015 has been good so far for his still fledgling career but he is seeking to emulate his achievements once the opportunities are provided. “2015 is good for me, I just have to keep working hard while maintaining the hard work and staying focused”, he said.
Chandrika made his debut against Australia back in June after catching the selectors’ eye with a fluent 74 against the Aussies in a tour match while playing for the West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI. His technique and ability to judge the ball was then put to the test so to speak when he was given the opportunity in the second Test match at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
However, his habit of chasing the wide ball was exploited by left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc who accounted for the batsman’s two dismissals, back to back ducks, caught in the slip cordon. When asked about his errors in the Test match, the 25 year-old admitted that it was due to a lack of patience. “Well it was a lack of patience and following some wide balls, so I’m working on that to correct it”. Asked about what he has learnt about Test cricket from his single match, Chandrika explained, “Test cricket is the best cricket for me and the experience was good. In Test cricket you have to focus more and concentrate harder because it’s a more patient game”. One of the leading run scorers for the victorious Guyana Jaguars in the WICB Regional 4-day tourney last season with five half-centuries, the ex-West Indies U19 batsman said that apart from looking to convert his fifties into three figures he has one eye trained on making the West Indies team for the upcoming Sri Lanka series.
“I don’t really set goals that I can’t achieve but I’m looking to get more runs than I had last season and also to convert my 50’s into hundreds. My short-term aim however, is to see if I can make the team to go to Sri Lanka”. Shifting topics to the Jaguars’ upcoming Professional Cricket League (PCL) season where they will look to successfully defend their title, Chandrika believes that his team is capable of such a feat, adding that the acquisition of Bajans Javon Searles and Ryan Hinds will add a lot to the team.
“The Jaguars have a balanced team mixed with experienced and young players with plenty good all-rounders and I think Searles and Hinds are two good players and will bring good things to the team. Hinds is an experienced player at the Regional level and played Test cricket so I think they will strengthen the all-rounder department a bit more”.
The West Indies A batsman along with fellow Guyana and West Indies teammate Leon Johnson and a few other players will wrap up their stint in Barbados in a few days before returning home.
