Baugh making most of second chance

NEW DELHI, India (CMC):

After six years in the selection wilderness, wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh has been enjoying a new lease on his international career.

He made his Test debut as a 20-year-old against the touring Australians back in 2003, but survived just five matches over the next year before being discarded.

The pint-size Jamaican gained a shock call-up for the tour of Sri Lanka last year after incumbent Denesh Ramdin was dumped and has been turning in a number of decent performances since.

"The hard work that I have been putting in off the field is what is helping me when I go on to the field," the 29-year-old told Windiescricket.com.

"I always try to do extra (drills) after our training sessions are finished to improve my skills, as well as my concentration."

Baugh was a leg-spinner in his early schoolboy days, but switched to keeping wicket while a student at Wolmer's Boys' School in Kingston.

He is the latest in a long line of West Indies Test wicketkeepers the school has produced with Karl Nunes, Ivan Barrow, Gerry Alexander, Jackie Hendriks and Jeffery Dujon the others.

"As a young cricketer, I always liked wicketkeeping, but there was no place in the team for me as a keeper, so I used to bowl some leg breaks," Baugh explained.

"Whenever I got the chance to go behind the stumps, I would take it and try to improve my keeping. Jeffery Dujon was my idol growing up. I knew he went to Wolmer's and I wanted to follow in his footsteps and become an outstanding West Indies wicketkeeper as well."

Talents on show

He put his talents on show during the second day of the first Test, when he held three sharp catches and pulled off a brilliant stumping to dismiss the dangerous Virender Sehwag in India's first innings.

Baugh collected a ball from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo down the leg side and waited for the batsman to lift his foot before swiftly removing the bails in a superb exhibition of timing and judgement.

The dismissal sparked a collapse as India were bundled out for 209, handing West Indies a 95-run lead.

"My timing had to be spot on. It is something I have been working on ... to look for those opportunities to get wickets for the team," Baugh said.

"In the series against India at home earlier this year, I noticed that some of the Indian batsmen would sometimes 'off-balance' when they played the spin, so I was looking for a chance to get a dismissal and get that breakthrough. I worked well today (Monday)."

He added: "It was a good day for me behind the stumps and as a team, we played some pretty good cricket out there under pressure. What was very important was the way we stuck together and did not drop our heads when the batsmen got off to a flying start.

"As the keeper and someone who has a good view of the way the game is flowing, it is vital that I always look to keep everyone motivated and focused."

David Williams, the West Indies assistant coach and a former Test keeper, has been working closely with Baugh and said he was delighted with his progress.

"I am very happy with what I am seeing. The stumping of Sehwag was unbelievable, the way he moved to get himself in the right position was a joy to see," said Williams, who played 11 Tests and 36 one-day internationals between 1988 and 1998.

"His timing had to be spot. The catching, especially low down, was also good. He is reaping rewards for the hard work. He is very calm behind the stumps and you can see he is enjoying his cricket."

Captain Darren Sammy joined in praise for Baugh, noting that his dismissals had come at crucial times for the Windies.

"The efforts of Carlton Baugh really helped the team. He held on to some difficult chances, some crucial dismissals. That catch of V.V.S Laxman and then the stumping of Sehwag, these are things that motivate the team," Sammy pointed out.

"Those kinds of performances really lift a team. You could see the energy levels on the field after Carlton pulled off that brilliant work."

India, set 276 for victory, went on to secure victory for the loss of five wickets.