The West Indian . Dec 17, 2016 . Page 61 COMMUNITY PROFILE of The Week By Dr. DHANPAUL NARINE Ramnaresh Sarwan Calls it a Day! he stories fl ow like honey on Hooper was so im- was to play the way I occurred in 2002 against 2009 where he scored pressed with Sarwan’s batted in the nets.’ He Bangladesh at Dhaka. a magnifi cent 291 in Ta freshly baked bun. They are ability that he predicted credits Roger Harper as It was his second the Third Test. nostalgic and tell of a young man that the young man the person that helped Test century, however, During his career in his prime dispatching the ball would play Test cricket. him to build confi dence. that catapulted him into there were problems to all parts of the boundary. He is Sarwan said, ‘ Hooper’s Sarwan had the chance the land of legends. with his fi tness and controversies with nimble, has eyes like the jaguar of the West Indies his island and is unafraid to take Cricket Board. on the opposition. The cricket Sarwan said that he felt free when stories are endless and they will he accepted an become part of his legend. offer to play for Leicestershire in But there are on the island of Wake- England. He lived other stories that are naam in the Essequibo up to his promise seldom told. Kishan Islands. His parents are Ramnaresh and scored heavily and Kumarie are Kishan and Kumarie. Sarwan in for his county. In standing in the line According to Kis- addition, his pres- at Piarco Airport in han the young Sarwan perfect balance ence motivated the Trinidad. An immi- picked up a cricket bat as he strokes youngsters in the gration offi cer spots at the age of three. His his way to county to do well. them. He approaches was hitting the ball with The average the couple, takes their aggression but there another century. fan may see crick- passports and ushers were deft touches as et as a game for them to a secluded well that would become statisticians. But room. his trademark. for Sarwan cricket The television is Kishan explains that is hardly about on and the offi cer Sarwan was given his numbers. It is a says, ‘ you can watch name in an extraordi- drama in which your son bat. I will be nary circum- willow meets red back later.’ stance. He West Indies were in a buffet of glori- Ramnaresh says, ‘I have playing Australia ous strokeplay. The Sarwan tore into the one name that at St. John’s in An- spin and shine of the opposition at Queens is Dharam- tigua in 2003 and cherry have beckoned Park Oval on that chand. When were set a world the purists and word- day. He brought Ramnaresh was record total of 418 smiths. They rave victory to West born I was not to win the game. about line and length Indies as his proud at home. I was Sarwan walked to and the ability to hit parents watched the working at Bur- the middle with the good balls to the game at the airport. ma. My father history against him fence. In September 2016 is Sarwan and and his team. By Sarwan was gift- Sarwan retired from my grandfather the time he left he ed. The graceful off- all forms of cricket. is Ramnaresh. had scored a mag- drive dented the spirit His retirement should My father went nifi cent century of the best bowlers. not go unnoticed. and registered with scintillating It gave him a place Sarwan has legions him as Ramna- strokeplay and a among the legends. of fans that will sing resh Sarwan.’ barrage of sledging Sarwan retired his praises. They will The family to boot! young, misunder- say that he is among moved and The Austra- stood and mishan- the best batsman Sarwan attend- lian fast bowlers dled. There are no that West Indies ed Stella Maris tried everything regrets. He is happy. has produced. He Primary School but Sarwan, ably Kumarie remains is fl eet-footed, sees in Georgetown. Sarwan’s parents Kishan and Kumarie pose proudly with one of his ‘Player of assisted by Chan- close to her son. She the ball early, and is He took his the Match’ awards. derpaul, withstood admires his trophies unafraid to go for the cricket with him the torrent. West and awards. Kishan hook. But Sarwan and represented Stella words inspired me to to prove himself in 2000 Indies went to make the smiles. He looks in was more. Maris when he was just really train and work when he was selected runs and beat Australia the distance and says, He had all the ten years old. Sarwan hard.’ But there were to represent West Indies and create history. It was ‘ Sarwan was bless- strokes in his reper- made 49 runs in the fi nal challenges to overcome. against Pakistan. the highest successful toire and knew which and took his team to vic- As a youngster Sarwan His debut innings of run chase in the fourth ed. He had class.’ he should play for tory. He said at the time had to undergo a bap- 84 was impressive and innings of a Test match He is right. Sarwan’s just about every de- that his ambition was tism of fi re. it prompted Ted Dexter and a game that is still scored fi fteen Test livery. When Sarwan to play for Guyana and As he puts it, ‘ I was to predict that Sarwan talked about today. centuries, the same is on song there is no the West Indies. In the peppered by pacers would have an average The versatility of as Kanhai, and he better sight to watch 1995-96 season Sarwan since I seen a little of over 50 when he re- Sarwan was far from has set records in the in cricket. How did realized his dreams. He boy from Wakenaam. tired. After a disastrous fi nished. He struck six one-dayers as well. it all start and what was selected to play for I was intimidated by Australian tour Sarwan fours in an over against As Sarwan led him to fulfi ll an Guyana against Barba- the fast bowling of the was determined to prove Munaf Patel against brought the curtains ambition to play with dos in the Red Stripe big guys. I was batting himself. He would score India in St. Lucia in down at Stella Maris the best in cricket? Cup. He was only 15 well in practice games vital fi fties and seventies 2006. One of his best one couldn’t help Ramnaresh Sarwan years old. but I was afraid to play but he was yet to make innings unfolded against thinking: if only was born in Zeelandia A year earlier Carl the big shots. The trick a Test hundred. This England in Barbados in things were different.