Discarded Guyana batsman Robin Bacchus is on a mission to make a return to national colours. Stabroek Sport caught up with the left-handed batsman and discussed his plan for the future.
“Yes of course I would still love to represent Guyana again,” the 30-year-old told this publication.
“I think with some really hard work and commitment I could be able to be in the mix again,” he added.
Bacchus said that he has been spending a lot of time doing gym training and practice despite the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) forcing a stoppage since he has most of what he needs at home.
“I’ve been managing ok… I’m still training, still doing my gym work and up until the lockdown, I was still practicing as usual… luckily, I always had a sort of home gym set up with some weights and resistant bands so I’m still able to get in some work but it is still hard not able to hit some balls and do basic cricket stuff,” he related.
Bacchus, who scored a blistering 86 for Georgetown Cricket Club in his last first-division match, was omitted from the Cricket Guy Inc., Academy set-up last year but believed that it was a blessing in disguise.
“I think sometimes it’s a good thing to just step away to see things better and asses what needs to be done from a personal perspective and work towards being better,” he opined.
With that ‘outsider’ perspective, the former Guyana Amazon Warriors batsman said that he has gained a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of the game.
Bacchus suggested that he is open to all formats of the game but admitted that he was maybe probably better suited to the shorter format.
“Limited overs cricket best suits the way I play [but] as much I would love to be in whites, I know that the long version requires a different set of skills [so] at this point, I would focus all my energy on limited overs cricket now. Time is limited. I’ll be 31 in couple of days.”
Looking at his pathway to a return, Bacchus revealed that he is working extensively on his fitness, since it is a major factor for selection as well as getting stronger in order to “strike the ball better.”
“Once cricket resumes I’ll give it my all and see where things go from there.”
However, with no real breakthrough as it relates to the pandemic, Bacchus explained, “Right now the plan is just to be ready when cricket starts back and take it one day at a time until the opportunity comes to play a level in which I would be able to perform and be selected to play for my country again.”
