RICHARDSON
JAMAICAN FAST bowler Andrew Richardson, at 24, was at the brink of gaining a West Indies senior selection a couple of seasons ago after starring for the island in the regional tournament by capturing 36 wickets.
However, a stress fracture of the back forced him out of the game he had loved and played for years. Richardson played on numerous winning teams while at Kingston College from Under-14, Colts and four Sunlight Cups with Kingston College from 1997-2000.
The 6' 3" pacer went on to captain Jamaica's Under-19 team and later the West Indies Under-19s.
One and One caught up with the talented cricketer who shared his thoughts about himself and West Indies cricket.
Q: You were sidelined for a while with a back injury. Tell us about it and how is it now?
AR: Basically, it was a stress fracture and it just wanted a little rest and I gave it rest and it seems to be OK right now. I was out for nine months.
Q: How does it affect you mentally in bowling all out?
AR: As long as I am not having pain, it's all right. It's not a major concern right now. Just have to still do the background work and the exercises in order for it not to happen again.
Q: You had a wonderful year in 2004, capturing 36 wickets and were touted as a future senior West Indies player before the injury. How much of a setback was that?
AR: I thought I was very close to getting a West Indies senior team selection. But what happened affected me a little bit in terms of where I would want to be right now. I know what it takes to get there so I just have to do the work and get back to where I was.
Q: Tell us about your overseas team and the league it is in.
AR: I played for a team in the Bolton League named Ashley and Tilde, which is a very united team. It was a good experience for me being the leader of an overseas club. It was a challenge but it was OK because I got wickets and I got runs. It was a good learning curve.
Q: What is it like adjusting to the different conditions and how many wickets did you get?
AR: I got a few five-wicket hauls. It was very hard adjusting to the conditions. The preparation of the wickets are different than in Jamaica. Even when the wickets are a bit wet over there, you still have to turn up and play. You just have to be a professional and do what you have to do.
Q: What do you think of the present contract situation involving the West Indies management and players?
AR: Well, I haven't really gotten any chance to speak to any of the players about it. I only hear rumours. I think the two parties need to sort it out because it is not doing West Indies cricket any good. The better players have to sit down and watch the cricket. We are playing with a second-string team and that is not good for our cricket at all. The only persons benefitting are the players that are getting experience. But the experience they are getting is not winning experience but losing experience. Winning is a habit, just like losing, and if you develop the habit you will always be a loser. We need to sort that out because it is better for the cricket and everybody.
Q: If selected for the West Indies team now, what would be your position in terms of the contracts scenario?
AR: That would be very hard to answer right now. I would have to read every word of the contract and understand it before signing it.
Q: Regional cricket is in a bad state, what are your suggestions regarding getting it back on top?
AR: It's up to the players and the people behind the scene. I think we should get better coaching for the youngsters and get them more interested in playing cricket. We have some good youngsters out there with the talent but they are not motivated by what they are seeing right now. The guys that are playing need to put a little more focus into what they are doing because we have the talent.
Q: A lot of West Indies bowlers are getting injured regularly. What do you think is the problem, and what is your solution?
AR: If I knew the problem, I would never have gotten injured in the first place. Basically, I think it is being overworked and the bowlers need to be rotated more often.
- Howard Walker
