In a T20 era Dindyal wants to play Test Cricket

Oct 13, 2019 Sports

By Sean Devers

This is the era of the hype and glamor of the fast pace of T20 cricket but surprisingly West Indies U-16 batsman Mavindra Dindyal loves the 50-over and two-innings format and wants to play Test cricket.
Only 14 years, the elegant right-hander has scored three consecutive half-centuries since his Two-Day First-Division debut for GCC and his imperious cover-drives brings a young ‘Ronnie Sarwan to mind.
His commitment to hours of batting practice with his father Gopaul, who would soak the ball in a bucket of water and bowl it short on the concrete is similar to how a young Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his dad practiced in the late 1990s.
This, his dad says, makes him mentally tough and not afraid of facing bouncers from fast bowlers.
And it seems to be paying off since he has been very consistent at the highest level of the GCA’s cricket.
Dindyal batting belies his age and the teenager, who also bowls some off-spin, knows that he needs to convert his fifties into tons and is willing to listen to advice.
“I practice from Monday to Friday and also work on my fitness with short sprints and doing laps at Bourda” says Mavendra
Since the resumption of the First Division season in the City, all of his fifties have been scored at Bourda,where West Indies won its first ever Test match in 1930 and which is one of three venues to have hosted International cricket in Guyana, the only place in the West Indies where this has happened.
“I know that I need to stay at the crease longer and convert good starts into hundreds. I am working hard on getting a first division century as soon as possible” Mavendra explained.
He made his Regional U-15 debut last year and scored 99 against Barbados and 59 versus the Leewards before making his first century (125 v B’dos) in addition to two fifties in Antigua in April this year.
After playing 10 matches at U-15 level in two seasons, Mavindra made his U-17 Guyana debut in July this year and his highest score was 48 against T&T.
In August this year he toured with the West Indies U-16 team to England.
“I learnt a lot from the trip to England. I had to play later and wait for the ball longer because it swings more in English conditions” said the level headed young man who attended the Diamond Primary and is now a student at the Diamond Secondary where he will write his CXC Exams in the next two years.
The talented lad made his entry into this world on October 10, 2004 and is youngest child of Gopaul and Jasmin Dindyal. His only sibling is his 18-year-old sister Darshanie.
He grew up in the East Bank Village of Herstelling and became interested cricket by going with his dad to watch the GYO’s first division team play.
“I became fascinated by the sound of the ball hitting the bat and I joined GYO when I was seven.
When I came back from England this year I moved GCC because the Club (GYO) started to break up and the Coaches had left” Mavindra informed.
He has played for the Diamond Secondary both times they won the East Bank zone of the Secondary School’s 40-over cricket tournament for the last two years.
“This is the sports term and this year’s
tournament should start next month and I am looking forward to that. My favourite subject is Science. I try to balance academics and cricket but at times I miss assignments when have to go to cricket camps but I still get them from my friends since, although I want to make cricket my career I know that education is important” says Mavindra who plays a bit of Table Tennis and Football at school.
Not surprisingly his favourite shot is the cover drive while his favourite batsman is Indian Captain Virat Kholi. When not at school or practicing he like spending time with his family, listening to Music and watching cricket videos on YouTube with Kholi, Kane Williamson and Joe Root.
Mavendra, who loves Dhall Puri with Channa Curry, is working to make the Guyana and West Indies U-19 teams next year.
One of the bright spots for the future of Guyana’s First-Class cricket once he remains focused, Mavindra thanked his Coaches (Yadram & Grimmond) at GYO, Reon King and Peter Persaud (GCC), Julian Moore (Guy U15) and Orin Bailey (Guy U17).
He was also grateful for the support he gets in his fledging Career from his Family and his team-mates at GYO, GCC and Rising Stars, a club on the Essequibo Coast where his parents are from.
Fans will however have to wait at least two weeks before they see him in local cricket since his left arm is in a cast after he fractured his thumb during a fielding session at GCC this week.

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In a T20 era Dindyal wants to play Test Cricket

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