Beaton eager to become first E’bo player to play for Windies

Feb 14, 2014 Sports

---

Excited to be named in IPL auction

By Sean Devers in Trinidad In Association with Digicel, Carib Beer,
Giftland Office Max, Payless Variety Store & Leisure Inn & Car Rentals 
Talented Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ team fast bowler Ronsford Rodwick Beaton was born on the volcanic Island of Montserrat to Kirk and Camille on July 17, 1992 but grew up from a toddler in Guyana’s largest but least populated County.
Beaton hails from the Village of Reliance on the Essequibo Coast and is arguably the fastest bowler in the NAGICO Super50 tournament presently being played in Trinidad and Tobago.

The 21-year-old Central Essequibo pacer should not be too far away from becoming the first Essequibo player to play for the West Indies.
Although 79-year-old Ivor Mendonca, who played two Tests against India in 1962, was born in the Essequibo town of Bartica and 33-year-old Ramnaresh Sarwan, who has 15 centuries from 87 Tests, was born on the Essequibo Island of Wakenaam, they both played for GCC and represented Demerara at the Inter-County level.
The uncapped Beaton is also among a list of 36 Caribbean cricketers for auction in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) which concludes today (Feb 13).
Beaton is pleased with his performances for Guyana Malta Supreme in this year’s Super50 tourney and admitted to being excited at being in the IPL auction.
“I am excited about the ILP auction and I will know if I am successful today. Even if I am not bought the fact that I am in the auction means that I am being recognized which could be good for my chances in making the West Indies,” Beaton said.
The fast bowler was not surprised with his work in this tournament informing that his preparation was great, both physically and mentally. He has already played a lot in different conditions and has grown tremendously as a bowler.
Colin Croft, the former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler, described Beaton as one of the most promising young pacers in the Region. Croft, who took 125 wickets from just 27 Tests between 1977 & 1982 feels that the only problem with Beaton, seems to be when he comes back for a second spell.
”He has good rhythm and bowls with genuine pace but only for short four or five over spells. When he came back for his second spell his pace dipped. But he is young and can only get better and I would not be surprised if he gets a West Indies call-up very soon,” Croft, one of only three Guyanese with over 100 Test wickets, declared.
“Definitely, I wanted to perform to the best of my ability and come out with a good economy rate; I might not be the strongest person in the world but I feel I am in good shape with my fitness so I was really looking forward to doing well for my country. Trying to make the West Indies is also a big motivation for me here,” Beaton explained.
Last year when Beaton toured with the West Indies ‘A’ team to India, Indian Test player Yuvraj Singh described him as a young Curtley Ambrose, the outstanding former West Indies fast bowler who captured 405 Test scalps from 98 matches.
Having shown great aggression and hostility during his career so far, many feel he has the potential to wear the prestigious maroon colours. His First-Class debut was against the England Lions in 2011 and he has 25 wickets from 14 matches.
Croft feels if the former Abram’s Zuil Secondary School student continues to improve he should soon make his International debut since many are impressed with his pace.
After completing High school he attended the Guyana School of Agriculture and Beaton, an Essequibo sprint champion, who was invited to the national athletics trials, said that he is now eagerly looking forward to being picked for the West Indies.
“I am bowling fast and with control and certainly looking forward for a West Indies pick this year, but I know I have to take wickets on a consistent basis and impress the selectors,” said Beaton, who should inspire other youths from the Cinderella County to take the game seriously.
The entire Regional Super50 in being televised by ESPN and Beaton recognized his chance to impress. He goes into today’s semi-final against Barbados as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament after making his Regional 50-over debut against Jamaica last year at Providence and has so far taken 16 scalps from nine 50 overs games.
“This is a good opportunity to showcase my talent in this (Regional Super50) tournament here in Trinidad,” revealed Beaton, who missed the inaugural Caribbean Premier League T20 last year due to injury.
Former Essequibo Inter-County cricketer Raul Khan describes the short-listing of Beaton for the IPL 2014, as a historic moment for Essequibo’s cricket, adding that Essequibo will go down in the history books, if Beaton lands an IPL contract.
“Essequibo is on the cusp of history as Beaton has been deservedly identified for the IPL 2014 auction owing to consistently stellar performances.
Khan said Beaton was not just pitch-forked into the national team but worked indefatigably with unwavering commitment, adding that Beaton’s effort has now started to pay dividends.
“Even if he lands a lucrative IPL contract and I do not foresee any deterrent as the scouts and his performances can validate, he is still uncapped and a leap away from the donning West Indies colours at the highest level and he should be guided by that as his bench mark,” the former inter-county player remarked.
Beaton’s sister, Abigail Loncke, said her brother was always into sports without forsaking his academics and his rise to prominence should be a motivation for all young cricketers from Essequibo that in life hard work is most times followed by success.
He played at the regional Under-15 level in 2008 and was one of three players from Essequibo in the 2009 Guyana U-19 team.
Beaton made his senior four-day Inter-County debut in the 2009 as a school boy and later that year, despite an ankle injury, bowled with genuine pace in the U-19 Three-Day Inter-County competition.
Beaton represented the West Indies Under-19 team in one Test and two ODIs against Australia in Dubai in April 2011 and against the USA in Florida in July.
On his return from the USA he was named captain of the Guyana Under-19 team for the 2011 regional series in Guyana, joining Sydney Matthews, who led the side in 1971, as the only fast bowlers to Captain Guyana at youth level.
In 2011 Beaton represented the West Indies U-19 team in a Quadrangular Series in India and again played for the Regional side the next year in the U-19 World Cup in Australia.
Whatever happens today in India, Ronsford Beaton is certainly one to watch as he climbs the ladder in his career.

---

---