Johnson feels maturity key to his recent success

Aug 19, 2008 Sports

Says Sarwan has been a big help this year

By Sean Devers
Former West Indies under-19 Skipper Leon Johnson received a wonderful belated birthday gift last week when he was selected along with Australia-born Jamaican Brendan Nash as the only new faces in a West Indies cricket team for the Tri-nation series in Canada and next month’s ICC Champions trophy.

The Guyanese left-handed batsman who turned 21 two Fridays ago, told Kaieteur News on Saturday in an exclusive interview from England that he got the news of his selection as he was preparing to bat for his English club.

“I was at in the dressing at my club in England padding up to bat at number three when my phone rang and it was the chairman of selectors Mister Clyde Butts calling me to inform me that I was selected,” Johnson, who has scored 431 runs from eight first-class matches, explained.

“I was elated, had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I was a bit surprised since to be honest, I was not totally expecting it,” he added.

Johnson who made his first-class debut as a 16-year-old in 2003, scored 427 runs at an average of 42.70 from six matches in this year’s first class series including three half-centuries and new Chairman of the West Indies selectors, former Test off-spinner Clyde Butts informed that after a number of middle order batsmen were tried recently but failed to produce what was expected, his panel decided to opt for a talented young batsman to groom and Johnson, who also bowls right-arm leg-spin was given the nod.

The youth who hails from Kamuni Creek in rural Guyana and plays for the famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) feel his recent success came from hard work, dedication and the willingness to learn but more importantly maturity.

He also says his GCC club mate and West Indies vice Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan played a big role in helping him this season.

“I played two games as schoolboy a few years earlier and I maybe wasn’t mature enough, but I think on my return I was more mentally ready, and willing to listen and learn from Sarwan,” he disclosed “I am very much honoured to be selected for WI, when I started playing for GCC being around several WI players was great, that’s what I wanted to do.

I wanted to become just like them,” revealed Johnson who began his club career in Guyana with players Like Reon King, Neil McGarrell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sarwan all representing Bourda at the first division level.

Johnson, who also played for Guyana in the last Stanford 20/20 tournament, led the regional side to the 2006 under-19 world cup and feels that experience helped him a lot. “It made me want to do even more as a player to inspire my teammates.

I also learnt a lot from former WI captain Jimmy Adams (who was the Manager) and coach Roddy Estwick,” said Johnson, who had to wait four years to return to first class cricket after his debut.

The middle order batsman who became the only Guyanese to score a regional under-19 double century during the 2005 West Indies youth series in St Vincent is enjoying a productive season in England.

“England made me look at the game from a different perspective. Playing here makes me realize that the game of cricket is truly between bat and ball.

Conditions here tend to favor seam bowlers and it doesn’t matter who you are, anyone can get you out, so I’ve learnt to cherish my wicket more and to fight tough periods out,” he disclosed.

Johnson says that his family, former West Indies wicketkeeper and his manager at GCC Ivor Mendonca, Sarwan, King, McGarrell, ex-Guyana ‘keeper and his close friend Tyrell Tull, his club captain Jason Benn, Paul Bevaun, Nicholas DeGroot, Harold Dhanraj and all of his GCC club-mates have helped him with his cricket.

“My neighbor in Guyana , who interestingly enough is a football coach, all of my friends from school who supported me playing cricket and took my notes for me, have also played an important part in my success,” he added.

Johnson says his goal right now is to perform to the best of his ability when given the chance, to learn as much as he can about playing at the International level and try to stake a claim for his main goal in cricket; to play in a Test match.

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