By John Ramsingh
As we look back at the busy 365 days of cricket in 2017, we will see a big impression from a not-so-big yet remarkably outstanding player. After persistently knocking at the senior West Indies’ selectors door with his heavy scoring, Vishaul Singh finally got their nod against the visiting Pakistan team in the first Test at Sabina Park on April 21.
The left-handed batsman finished the three-match series with just 63 runs from his six innings. However, after a performance that is way below his standards, Singh went back to the drawing boards a trend we saw when he made his First Class debut for Guyana in April 2009.
Windies “A” Team and Guyana Jaguars Vice-Captain, Vishaul Singh credits his family for his ongoing success
When the Alexander Village born player was just 20 years old, he made his First Class debut in a struggling Guyana team at Providence. It was Guyana’s last match of the season and Singh’s contribution were 4 and 34. He did not play the next season but was picked again in 2010 and scored just one half century before he was placed in the wilderness.
“Cheesy” as he is called, used the setbacks as opportunities and balanced academics and playing very well over the next few years. Singh, who played for Guyana under 19 in St. Kitts in 2008 went on to the University of Guyana after completing his secondary school life at St. Rose’s High and St. Stanislaus College (sixth form).
During the period when he was in and out of the Guyana First Class team, Singh also ventured to England to develop his game. After persistently working hard in 2010, he broke a 20-year-old Kent League record of 1012 runs set by former Australian Test batsman Justin Langer.
It was the exposure in the English leagues coupled with the determination to get his professional cricketing career back on track that brought him the success he is currently enjoying.
At the introduction of the Professional Cricket League in 2014, Singh was picked again in. Upon his return this time, he made 479 runs and followed-it up by becoming the third-highest scorer with 712 runs at 50.85 in the subsequent season. The performance resulted in Guyana successfully defending their first-class crown.
Vishaul’s 2016-17 first-class season wasn’t as exemplary as the two seasons that preceded it, but a call-up came his way against the touring Sri Lanka A team in October 2016, where he struck 161. He was announced vice-captain of the West Indies President’s XI side that played Pakistan in April 2017. An unbeaten 135 in the three-day fixture earned him his Test cap.
While his game on the field was coming together, he met and married Trisha Persaud in August 2015 and the next year, Aaron Jace Singh was born. The proud dad however, was summoned to St. Kitts where he was asked to play for the West Indies Cricket Board’s President’s XI against the touring Indians and missed Aaron’s birth in the USA. In the first innings he made three while he was run out for 39 in the second. Yet again a trend of doing better given the second opportunity was seen.
“Cheesy” credits his strong family bond for his success since it was his dad, Hardat “Pep-pee” Singh who took him to the Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) to begin playing competitively.
At the age of 10 years old, playing for the East Bank of Demerara against the famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) that he was invited to play for the club that he eventually made his second home.
Now that he has a family of his own, Singh said “My family support is too big to describe. From my parents now to my wife and son. They drive me to keep going.”
Singh who has 463 runs from six matches this season in the Guyana Jaguars’ quest for a fourth consecutive title has a short but strong message for everyone in sport, “To be a professional in any sport and to be successful hard work is the only ingredient.”
