Denesh Ramdin: I am mentally and physically ready for Zimbabwe challenge – Cricket News Update
West Indies wicketkeeper batsman Denesh Ramdin on Thursday said that he has been working hard with the bat and gloves over the last few months and was “mentally and physically” ready for the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe, which kicks off here at
St George’s today, February 22, 2013.
While speaking to media reporters on the eve of the first One Day International against the lowly ranked Rhodesians, Ramdin said that he was fit and ready for the challenge both behind the stumps as well with the bat.
"I am mentally and physically ready for this challenge. My form is 'there' and I am feeling confident with the bat and I have been working twice as hard to make sure I get runs when I'm out in the middle," said Ramdin, who made his One Day International
debut in 2005 and has since played 94 one-dayers for the Windies scoring 1105 runs, including three half centuries.
"Behind the stumps, I worked overtime to make sure that I was fit and ready when the selectors called on me," added the wicketkeeper batsman who has 125 catches and six stumpings to his name.
The 27-year-old Trinidad gloveman has not played a One Day International for West Indies since July last year, though he played the ICC World T20 Championship and the away Test series against Bangladesh that followed. The experienced wicketkeeper batsman
was left out of the ODI squads for the Bangladesh and Australia tours in favour of Devon Thomas. However, the latter’s unimpressive performances in the recently concluded limited-overs series against Australia prompted the West Indies Cricket Board selectors
to recall Ramdin.
"It's wonderful to be back in the West Indies One-Day colours and I'm looking to grab this opportunity with both hands," Ramdin told WICB Media.
"I have been away from the ODI scene but I have been doing well in Test cricket. I had some good performances last year, so I am looking to transfer that into the One-Day format, starting with these matches against Zimbabwe," he went on to add.
The first ODI of the three-match series will be played here at the Grenada National Stadium, Spice Isle on Friday. The match will mark a return of international cricket to the Spice Isle for the first time since 2009.