As a youth cricketer, Chandrapaul Hemraj had all the shots in the book, dominating bowlers of his level and those above with classy stroke-play but his elevation to the senior ranks was both a short and fruitless.
However, he returned to First-class cricket last weekend with a solid knock of 54 against Windward Islands Volcanoes at Providence. His innings lasted 102 balls and the five fours and two sixes he stroked were reminiscent of the past.
A touch of class! Chandrapaul Hemraj flicks one off his legs during his 54 against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Providence
“It is great feeling to be back in the team, it is a great environment I am in now and I just want to keep doing well for the team and myself,” the 23 year-old said.
Prior this match last weekend, Hemraj would have last played his six four-day matches in April 2014 after making a debut at the age of 19 in March 2012 against Trinidad and Tobago at the Queen’s Park Oval.
After some time away from the sport, the cricketer who hails from the village of Cane Grove on the East Coast Demerara, returned with a bang smashing the highest individual score (250) in the local 3-day league and was the fourth highest run-scorer, with 562 runs.
“I am thankful for my score, it was the first outing after three years and I backed myself to do well; I just stop pressuring myself, back my ability and score runs.”
The Everest Cricket Club (ECC) player who is a part of the Guyana Jaguars Squad 13-man which will face Leeward Islands Hurricanes today at Providence has immediately set the bar, aiming to score a maiden ton at this level.
“I just want to continue scoring runs for the team; I want to score a century and if I can do it at the next game I will be really thankful”, he revealed.
The former West Indies under-19 batsman who is among Cricket Guy Inc (CGI) academy’s players will want improve his 16.81 average at this level in an effort to be a permanent fixture in the national side.
