Murray hails maturing Ramdin
By STEPHON NICHOLAS Friday, March 7 2014
newsday
FORMER West Indies wicketkeeper, Deryck Murray, believes current WI keeper Denesh Ramdin is now channelling criticism positively and maturing into the player everyone expected him to be.
Ramdin, 28-years-old, became the first wicketkeeper from the Windies to score a hundred in a One-Day International on Wednesday when he struck a magnificent 128 that almost single-handedly propelled the regional team to victory against England.
His knock was not enough, though, as he was last man out with the regional side still 25 runs short of the victory target. England won the series 2-1.
“This is what was lacking previously,” said Murray, now president of Queen’s Park Cricket Club, “it (criticism) seemed to have had an adverse effect on him but he seems to be channelling it in the right direction now. Now he needs to take on the role of inspiring those around him and not let talk about selection and such get to him,” he continued.
Commenting on the knock which saw the right-hander smash 12 fours and five sixes, Murray described it as a tremendous achievement.
“I must congratulate him, it’s a pity he wasn’t able to inspire one other person to score a half-century or even a 40. He needs to maintain that consistency because his wicketkeeping has always been very good. Beyond question he is the number one wicketkeeper but he’s now proving his capability with the bat too,” he pointed out.
Ramdin has been enjoying a phenomenal time with the bat in the past two years with a century (107 not out) coming against England in June 2012 that invoked the famous “Yeah Viv Talk Nah” message to Sir Vivian Richards. He reached triple figures yet again in the away series against Bangladesh in 2012 (126 not out) and versus New Zealand (107) in 2013. Ramdin topped the batting averages (74.00) in the 2013 home Test series against Zimbabwe and had the second best average in the dismal tour of India later that year with 35.00.
“At times a few years ago it (criticism) may have been fair with some sporadic performances but in the last couple years he has shown the maturity needed in a leadership role. He must focus more on enjoying his game. He has been groomed (for captaincy) and has the leadership potential. Whether or not the selectors pick him as captain or vice- captain, as long as he is doing the job for the team, that’s important. He has always shown that he is willing to put the interest of the team before his own,” Murray concluded.