An opening batsman with a suitcase loaded with shots, Robin Bacchus is planning to marry his aggression with concertation when he dons national colours in the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) Independence Tri-nation Twenty20 Tournament which runs from today to October 14 in Antigua.
Speaking to Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday, the eve of the team’s departure, the flamboyant left-hander expressed, “this tournament is very important for me. It is an opportunity for me to put myself out back there. I was part of a Caribbean Premier League team [ Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2014] and given this is a T20 tournament it would be nice to go out and showcase my ability and let the region know what I am capable of doing.”
Robin Bacchus makes a good connection in the nets during the team’s final practice session at Everest on Wednesday
Playing at the senior level will not be his first since his lone List A match came in 2014 against Jamaica in Trinidad and Tobago where he fell cheaply for just six runs.
Since then, the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) player has been working towards his return to the national team. He would have his hopes high when he was called to the Guyana Jaguars squad for the latter part of the 2015/2016 Regional First-class season but did not get an opportunity in the final XI.
Conscious of where he needs to improve, the player noted he has to ‘give himself a chance’ at the crease.
“In T20 cricket everyone seems to think it is just about hitting the ball. As an opener you will find that with the pacers bowling and the field restrictions you can use the pace and pick the gaps and still pick up a lot of runs. You don’t have to hit it from ball one, you can pace yourself early and lay a foundation.”
He added, “Shot selection is important, there have been times I’m batting good and then I do something stupid. It is a matter of concentration of every single ball as it comes and make sure shot selection is right.”
The pressure of being one of the team’s only recognized opener is not daunting, it is a challenge the 28 year-old is eager to rise to the occasion and overcome.
“It does actually. Having to go out and lay the foundation for the team, having to utilize the first six overs, it is a lot of pressure but I’m up for the challenge.”
Guyana enter this tournament with a less than an impressive outing recently in white-ball cricket and having an excellent showing against the likes of Jamaica and Antigua will be critical. To achieve this feat, Bacchus is contending that execution is vital.
“I think we have a decent chance of winning. We have a lot of young players and a lot of players who have been part of CPL teams. Our bowlers are capable of having good economy rates, batsmen are capable of scoring more than run-a-ball. It is just a matter of us executing. Once we execute our plans we should play good.”
An Academy player in the current Jaguars’ programme, the player is looking further ahead to next year’s Regional Super50.
“I have been stereotyped as a specialist one-day cricketer since I was about 12 or 13. It is just a format I really like. I’m going to use this tournament of as stepping-stone of making that regional Super50 team again and excel from there.”
“I think I’m capable of playing the longer versions. But white ball cricket is a version I really enjoy. It is just about getting-on with the game, the former St. Joseph’s High School student expressed.
Bacchus’ first test will be against Jamaica on Saturday at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground from 18:00h.
