Barath’s hunt for success… and his roots

Lara’s attention

Barath says it was his performances during a regional under-15 tournament that first caught the attention of Brian Lara. “I was 11 years old then and had scored 429 runs in five one-day games. Brian Lara was nursing an injury at the time and had come to watch the match. Later,he asked me to come over to his house along with my father and said that I had good cricketing talent. He visited us often when we were batting in the nets as well and thereafter,he has been in regular touch with me,” says Barath,who is still coached by his father Ralph.

Considered one of the most promising players from the Caribbean,Barath made his first-class debut for Trinidad in 2007 but it was his Test debut against Australia where he scored a century that made the world take notice of his batting prowess. He had scored 104 in the second innings to become the youngest Test centurion from the West Indies. “That knock will always remain one of the milestones of my career. Scoring a century against Australia,in their backyard,is always seen as a benchmark. I was glad to able to do that. Moreover,that knock gave me lot of confidence,” he says.

One of the 30-members in the squad that will play the Twenty20 world championships at home in April,Barath wants to utilise whatever chances he gets for the Punjab team in the IPL and get into form. “There are only around six West Indies players playing in the IPL. That should give us an edge when the final team selection is done. Right now,I just want to do well for my team and help them win,” Barath,a final year student of Presentation College in Changuanas,says.

Among those targets from the India trip is another secret desire,however. “I would love to play against the Mumbai Indians. Sachin Tendulkar has always been one of my cricketing idols apart from Brian Lara. I am really glad the IPL is providing us with a chance to play with or against our idols. I am really looking forward to that.”