Sport

Deonarine gets a life

ST. JOHN'S, ANTIGUA, CMC

RECALLED AFTER BEING dropped following an encouraging debut in the first Test, Narsingh Deonarine hopes his return will help the West Indies end their two-match losing streak at the hands of South Africa in the fourth and final Test match which begins tomorrow at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG).

Deonarine, a 21-year-old batsman and useful off-spinner, debuted in the drawn first Test of the series in Guyana where he made 15 not out and took wickets while impressing with his off-breaks.

"I feel pretty good to get back into the side," he said at the end of an extensive practice yesterday with the rest of his team-mates at the Stanford Cricket Ground.

"Everyone will expect me to go out and perform well. The only thing I have to do is to go out and perform to the best of my ability," Deonarine said.

"I think I can make a contribution as a batsman and a bowler. I'm a batsman first and my bowling has been coming on good."

He said he felt no nerves during his first game.

"I tried to relax myself as much as possible and just go there and do the best I can do. The only thing you can do is either perform or fail. Just do your best with a free mind," he said.

His batting stance resembles that of captain and fellow Guyanese Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

"I've always looked at him. He has always approached his innings with determination. I like him a lot. I really don't pattern myself off him but growing up a schoolboy that's my normal style," Deonarine said of Chanderpaul.

He said his bowling has been improving.

"As you go from strength to strength you are going to improve in every department of the game. Obviously you are going to want to improve in your batting, bowling and fielding. Hopefully things will work my way."

He called on his team-mates to make a big effort in the last Test of the series.

"We have to perform to the best of our ability, all the senior players and everybody. If we perform as a team we will have a good match."