Sarwan determined to bounce back

HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC):

West Indies batting star Ramnaresh Sarwan has admitted he considered quitting international cricket recently but says he now intends to fight for his spot in the regional side.

The last year for the stylish Guyanese right-hander has been a turbulent one, starting when he was overlooked by the West Indies Cricket Board for a central contract last September and then axed for the ensuing Test tour of Sri Lanka.

"I did actually [consider quitting], probably as recently as eight months ago, because everything was getting frustrating," the 31-year-old told the Royal Gazette here.

"You're in a situation where you're not sure what's happening, whether it was for a good reason or a bad reason. I always felt I was walking a very thin line [with the Board], and obviously ... I mean, it's just a matter of how bad I want it now.

"Everything else is behind me, what happened in the past has stayed in the past, there's nothing that will get in my way from here on in. I will put everything aside and show myself, and continue to be the old Ramnaresh Sarwan who first started his career in 2000 ... "

Sarwan remains one of the most senior players in the West Indies squad, having already scored 5,842 runs from 87 Tests.

He has counted 15 Test centuries but his average has now slipped to 40.01 after a lean spell that has seen him go without a single half-century in 13 innings over a two-year span.

In the recent three-Test series against India, he was axed for the final match after scoring just 29 runs in the first four innings of the tour.

"The past two-and-a-half years it's been disappointing. Obviously I've had my problems with the Board in terms of my fitness issue and stuff like that, then I have been out of form," he explained.