Jonathon who? Jonathon Foo! ‘I am not just a 20/20 cricketer’ says teenager

Aug 29, 2010 Sports

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By Sean Devers

Nineteen-year-old debutant Jonathon Foo arrived at the crease in Barbados with Guyana desperately needing quick runs in their opening Caribbean Championship 20/20 match against the Leeward Islands. He nonchalantly smashed his first ball to the cover boundary.
His second ball disappeared back over the bowler’s head for six and his 3rd ball produced another boundary. All of a sudden tongues were wagging as the fans sensed there was something special about the teenager from Albion in Corentyne, Berbice.
It was only a year ago that the right-hander was representing his country in Jamaica in the 2009 Regional under-19 competition. While he always possessed awesome power for someone not blessed with bulging muscles, it was Foo’s maturity, confidence and self belief that mostly impressed those who had followed his career from the time he first played for Guyana in the 2004 regional under-15 tournament.
Foo might remember the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre nine years ago only because he was celebrating his 11th birthday on that day but his next birthday, a day before Guyana faces Royal Bangalore Challengers on September 12 in South Africa, could be an unforgettable experience for the youth who represented Guyana for six consecutive years at youth level.
Despite his obvious talent, Foo, who played at the Regional under-19 level for three years from 2007, was never able to dominate and with just three fifties to show for his work he would be the first to admit that he has under-achieved as a Guyana youth player.
Although never ‘big’ Foo was always strong for his age and his pugnacious 87 against the Leeward Islands in the 2008 Regional under-19 One-day tournament in Barbados was an indication of things to come.
Born to Mary Chinsammy and Derick Foo, Jonathon Alexander Foo has two younger sisters and began his love affair with cricket as an eight-year old when he joined Albion.
His mighty hitting in the Caribbean Championships, especially his heroic unbeaten 42 from just 17 balls in the pulsating final against Barbados put him on the world stage.
In much the same way Kieron Pollard announced his arrival in India last year for T&T, its now Foo’s time to shine in South Africa.
Foo plays an array of proper cricket shots and his two square-driven boundaries along the ground in that epic last over against Barbados and his sensible tuck to short mid-wicket for a single with 3 required from 3 balls, showed he was thinking.
“I depend on timing instead of power and my favorite shot is the straight hit. It is always safer when you are playing straight, even when attacking,” Foo says.
While Pollard is being branded a specialist 20/20 player, Foo is quick to say he is not only a 20/20 batsman, although it is the shortest form of the game that has now given him a chance to stake a claim for a lucrative IPL contract.
“It’s not all about hitting. Of course I enjoy hitting the big ones but I try to bat to suit the situation and in the 20/20 games I knew I had to be aggressive and score quick runs. I like to bat long and I enjoy two innings cricket which allows you to build an innings and get big scores. Defence and shot selection are also very important to my game and I want to get into the Guyana four-day team and to do well enough to some day realise my dream of playing Test cricket,” Foo disclosed.
The talented youth who has four first division Three-Day centuries, says his recent success has given him confidence and while he knows the pitches will be quicker and the standard higher in South Africa, he is backing himself to bat in the same positive manner that brought him success in the Caribbean.
“I was training hard right through and I believe I am a lot more mature now. Sometimes I got carried away when playing for the under-19 team but having players like Sarwan, Narsingh and Chattergoon in this team helped a lot with my focus and whole approach,” Foo said.
Apart from his young age and six-hitting ability, Foo also quickly became a crowd favourite because of his ethnicity.
He is the first player of Chinese ancestry to play senior cricket for Guyana and while he was blazing away in the final in Trinidad, ‘Kong-Fu fighting’ was being played by the DJ in the Trini Posse stand.
Foo’s father is a Chinese whose grandmother came from China while his mother, the sister of former Guyana First-Class off-spinner Michael Chinsammy and former National youths players Andy and Stanley Chinsammy, is of East Indian decent.
It was his uncles who took him to join Albion and after beginning his cricket career as a leg-spinner his batting developed to such an extent that he hardly ever bowls these days.
“I love batting but I also would like to bowl more often and I still work on my bowling in the nets. I used to bowl a lot more a year or two ago and while batting is my strength I want to develop into a genuine all-rounder later in my career,” Foo said.
The talented youth, one of four Albion players in the Guyana team to South Africa, says the other three (Deonarine, Chattergoon & Davendra Bishoo) along with former Guyana under-15 team Manager Veemen Walter, played the biggest roles in the formative stages of his cricket development.
Foo is now widely recognised after his 20/20 performance but he says that his feet are still firmly on the ground and he is focused on improving his cricket everyday and is careful not to be distracted by his recent success.
Like any other 19-year-old, Foo enjoys hanging out with friends. Being encamped in the city gave him a chance to visit some of the popular night clubs.
“This is what I have been working hard for since I was a little boy so I know how important it is stay focused. Since we came back lots of people have been congratulating me and it feels good but I will not get carried away and think I am a star or anything like that. I have been taken to some real nice night clubs in Georgetown but I don’t stay out too late and I don’t drink at all.
Alcohol is not good for you if you want to play sports,” Foo said, who hails from an area where alcohol consumption is very high.
“I was a bit nervous in the finals but I kept telling myself to keep focus and watch the ball. Winning the final was the best moment in my whole life! I am really excited and can’t wait to bat in South Africa. If we play as a team as we did in Trinidad and Barbados I honestly believe we could do this (win),” Foo said.
His Chinese features are unmistakable but his accent tells you he hails from rural Guyana and his love for Curried Chicken with Dhal and Rice above all other foods including Chinese Fried Rice, emphasize the fact that he grew up in a predominantly Indian community. The former JC Chandisingh Secondary School student enjoys music, swimming and playing Tennis.
If those in South Africa are not accustomed to seeing a Chinese walk out to bat for a West Indian team and ask Jonathon who? He hopes his batting will leave in their memory… Jonathon Foo.

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