Greener pastures

Former Barbados cricketer Mario Rampersaud has his sights set on representing the United States of America Cricket (USA) team.

The 28-year-old wicketkeeper had hopes of representing the West Indies Cricket team but his path took a different turn when he decided to migrate to the USA over the past year and a half.

Despite not being able to fulfil his dreams of playing for the men in maroon, Rampersaud, based in the Bay Area of California, is confident of a place on the USA squad.

“I was raised with cricket being the number one sport in Barbados. So, that is my love and my childhood dream was always to play for the West Indies. However, that vision is a bit blurry and far-fetched.

“So, the USA plays cricket and they are trying to develop and establish the sport and grow the sport over here. So, for example, Steven Taylor and Barbadian Aaron Jones and a couple more Caribbean guys as well, they play for the USA. So, it would be nice for me to get into the USA team. That is my plan at the current moment,” Rampersaud said.

No stranger to the cricket public in Barbados, Rampersaud played 14 first-class games and three 50-overs matches for the island. Now while in California he is plying his trade with the Golden State Grizzlies which are currently led by Saurabh Netravalkar, captain of the USA team.

Rampersaud represented Barbados and the National Sports Council from under-13 on a number of tours and was fortunate to rub shoulders with the likes of West Indies Test captain  Kraigg Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Shane Dowrich, Jomel Warrican, Shayne Moseley, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach and Kyle Mayers. 

During an interview with Barbados TODAY, Rampersaud who bleeds green as a former player for St. Catherine’s Cricket Club, expressed joy to see the success of his fellow Barbadian cricketers.

“I am very happy for their successes as well. Unfortunately, I am not there to share their successes with them. That is why I need to play for the USA because I have played youth cricket with Jason Holder, Shane Dowrich, Jomel Warrican, Kyle Mayers, Raymond Reifer, Roston Chase, Shai Hope.

“They excel and go on so I need to go on as well. So I need to be working as they are. Something that recently inspired me was Jason Holder’s quote. He said if you want to be the best then you got to compete with the best, you have got to find out what the best in the world are doing. If you want to be an average player and just be in the West Indies team, then you compete among your peers which is not a world-class mentality. When I read that from Jason it just hit home for me. It was inspiring. Like yeah, don’t fit in, you have to stand out among your peers,” Rampersaud explained.

With his focus on the Minor Leagues cricket competition in the USA which starts in July, Rampersaud, a former Lodge School student, said he has seen improvements in his game, particularly his batting.

“My batting has improved in terms of me being a more explosive player. I think coming here to the USA, the conditions are different in terms of the outfield. Like in Barbados and the Caribbean, the outfield would be faster. But over here in the USA, there are city requirements for California because it is such a hot climate and there are so many fires that the grass has to be a certain length.

“When you hit the ball along the ground you don’t get value for your runs. So, I realise that now to get runs I have to hit the ball over the top. That was not necessarily my game in Barbados. So now hitting the ball over mid-off and mid-on consistently, I have improved in that aspect.

“I have also matured in displaying batsmanship and knowing when a bowler is bowling well. Knowing when he is in a good rhythm and momentum, I accept that instead of trying to score all the time. Then when I get the bad balls, I put away the bad balls. So, I settle at the crease with a more mature mind,” Rampersaud said.

However, he noted that there is still room for improvement.

“If Jofra Archer or if Jason Holder or Rishabh Rajendra Pant (India’s wicketkeeper) had to come to the USA like in my situation, they would not have to wait three years. The USA would find a way to fast track them into the team. So, as a result, I have to get my game to such a level and skill capacity that when the selectors see me, they are like ‘wow, we need to fast track this guy’.

“That goes back to Jason Holder’s point about world-class mentality. When I come up against these guys I have to stand out. I want to be world-class. So, I have to step my game up. I’m not getting comfortable nor am I satisfied with where I am at currently because that is where I am looking to go,” he stressed. 

Rampersaud added: “Yes, I have played for Barbados but not played for the West Indies team. So, it is like playing and doing well for the USA would give my mom and dad some level of satisfaction. Not only my mom and dad, I still believe that there is a great following in Barbados who wants to see me do well.”

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb