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Ryan
Hinds...dismissed for 62 in his first Test for West Indies
BY
MICHELLE McDONALD
Ryan Hinds has always been a praying man, but even if he wasn't,
the many unfortunate episodes in his short career would have
caused him to get down on his knees. Successful performances
at the under—19 level led to him being hailed as the
next best player to emerge. However, we are yet to see the
quality of performances that in 2000, players like Desmond
Haynes and Ian Bishop predicted would come from him.
That's because Hinds' career has sputtered; stopping and starting
like a car in need of a good tune up. Unlike others whose
inconsistencies have been much a result of their own doing,
Ryan Hinds has been dealt an unlucky hand through injury,
illness and man-made acts. These have interrupted his career
at the most inopportune times.
Newly named as the replacement for Courtney Browne to lead
Barbados, the 24 year old Ryan Hinds paused to talk with CaribbeanCricket.com
on day three of the Carib Beer fixture against the Windwards
in Grenada.
Q:
This is your second match as captain. First of all, did you
know that Courtney was retiring?
A: Well, not really. It was a real shock to me. Courtney and
I, we're pretty close mates, and the news was really a shock.
Q: But of course captaincy is not new to you.
A: I've had the opportunity to captain the U-15 and U-19 national
teams so I have a very good idea about captaincy and leadership.
Q: And you captained the West Indies U-19 team.
A: Yes, in 2000 to Sri Lanka.
Q: As captain, what would you say is your style of leadership?
A: I like to be attacking. I guess depending on the situation
of the game, your style would vary a little bit, but I more
like to attack.
Q: What are your goals and objectives for this team?
A: We have a pretty young side and I think it's not all about
winning; it's more so about how we develop players to go on
to play the next level. So that's what I'm really concerned
about now – the development of Barbados cricket.
Q: I suppose one of your first goals is to win the Carib Beer
tournament this year.
A: There is nothing like winning in your first year as captain.
Q: What has been the response of your team mates, especially
the older ones who have been around first class cricket for
a longer time than you?
A: I think the guys are very supportive of me. I have played
in teams with the same guys that supported me so it's always
good to have those guys around to help me. Leadership is being
able to influence people. Once I can get that going, it makes
my job a lot easier.
Q: Let's talk about your own career. Why did you choose cricket?
A: My Dad, he loves cricket. I was raised in St Lucy and from
the time I was a little kid, he always used to take me around
to matches. My uncle played a bit of cricket for the Barbados
or West Indies U-19 teams. So I always had cricket in my family.
I live now in Holder's Hill where we produced a lot of fine
cricketers – Desmond Haynes, Adrian Griffiths, Franklyn
Stephenson to name a few. Where I am from, we try to maintain
that high standard in Holders Hill. Two of the guys on the
West Indies U-19 team are from Holder's Hill.
Q: When did you get the first call to represent a West Indies
team?
A: I could remember the Carib Cement Cup, U-15. It was in
Trinidad. I was the MVP for Barbados in that tournament. Then
I remember they had the first U-15 World Cup, the Lombard
Challenge in England and I played there.
Q: What was that experience like for you?
A: Well it was my first time in England; first time travelling
for eight hours. The facilities there were so good. It was
really a learning experience for me to be playing in England.
Q: So you progressed from West Indies U-15 to U-19 so you
must have been thinking that the next step is the senior team.
And once you got into the one day team in 2001, then I am
sure you thought 'yes, I have a shot at getting into the Test
team'.
A: Yes, as a young boy coming up, one of my dreams always
was to represent the West Indies. I couldn't even sleep that
night when I was named in the final eleven. For me, it was
a real joy to get over that and I was trying to maintain a
very bright future in West Indies cricket. That's what I'm
working on right now.
Q: Did you feel you got enough preparation for the transition
from U-19 to senior cricket?
A: To be honest, not much first class cricket is being played
in the region. We play five first class games a year if you
are not getting into the semi finals or finals. I don't think
it's enough cricket to prepare you for the world stage.
Q: Do you think the selectors should have a criterion that
says you must have played let's say two full first class seasons
before being eligible for selection?
A: Well, I'm not too sure about that [chuckling]. As long
as you're performing, you're always in the selectors' eyes.
It's just a matter of performing and you never know!
Q: But the thinking is that without that first class experience
to give you knowledge of how to deal with certain situations,
then you're being set up for failure at the higher level and
that only very special people would be able to go on to be
a success at the senior team level without much first class
experience.
A: I guess that is a very difficult situation. Obviously you
want to play, you know you want to represent the West Indies.
I just would like to see more first class cricket being played
so that we are better prepared for international cricket.
Q: When you first got selected, I am sure you must have had
a vision for your career. Have you had to adjust that any,
based on how your career has gone so far?
A: Well you know that I've had a lot of ups and downs in my
career so far - injuries and not performing at the standard.
I am a very strong minded person. I think very positively
so I guess I just need to stay focussed, have a vision as
you said, or have a plan, and I am working on that right now.
Q: Last year you got a double strike because you got the groin
injury in the VB series and had to come back home and then
you got into the series against South Africa and then you
had the viral illness and then you missed out. How do you
pick yourself up after something like that?
A: At the end of the day, you got to remain focus, you got
to stay positive. I pray a lot and I believe in my ability
to play cricket at the highest level for quite some time.
Q: What has been your most memorable performance at the Test
level?
A: My debut Test, first innings in test cricket, 62. I really
enjoyed it. I was looking at three figures and unfortunately
I got out softly.
Q: Do you think that if you had got the three figures, it
would have set you up any better, confidence wise?
A: Yeah, pretty much. There is nothing like getting a hundred
on debut. I guess that would have been a remarkable achievement.
Q: Were you always an all rounder?
A: This is something you must know…I was a wicket keeper/batsman.
And in the Carib Cement U-15 tournament, I went as the first
string batsman/wicketkeeper! I used to do a bit of bowling
in the nets, and then my bowling came on strong from there,
and then I started bowling more and forgot about the wicket
keeping.
Q: Do you consider yourself a quality spinner, or have the
potential to be a quality spinner?
A: I have the potential to be a quality spinner. Some people
don't take my bowling very seriously. I'm an underrated bowler
but I know the person that I am; I'm very strong minded. Plus,
in the Barbados team, we always had a good core of fast bowlers
so sometimes it's very difficult to get that long spell.
Q: Everybody writes that we need to find one, so is that something
that you're hoping that will get you in, by improving your
bowling, to get into the team?
A: Not just improving my bowling; improving my whole all round
game, improving my fielding and my batting.
Q: Well, we have enough batsmen.
A: Yeah, I guess I'm working on improving my bowling with
the right guidance.
Q: Let's talk World Cup. We are hosting the World Cup in 2007.
Are you hoping to be a part of that unit?
A: Most definitely.
Q: Now you nearly got a chance in 2003. What did that feel
like?
A: Well you know, when I first got the call up, I told myself
this was another great opportunity to make a name for myself,
to make people in the Caribbean proud. There is nothing like
winning and bringing home the World Cup.
Q: And then you had to go back home.
A: And then I had to go back home and yes….that was another
turning point in my life. Obviously a bit disappointed.
Q: Where do you see yourself in five years time? What do you
see yourself doing?
A: Being a very successful captain, someone that has done
Barbados and West Indies cricket really proud; being married
with a few kids.
Q: Married with children. So you are following Courtney and
Corey with the marriage thing.
A: It's just a thought [smiling].
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