WHEN 18-year-old national Under-19 fast bowler Keon Andre Joseph leaves these shores this afternoon with his teammate and countryman Trevon Griffith for the West Indies Under-19 World Cup preparatory squad encampment in St Kitts, he will be doing so brimming with confidence at his chances of making the team to the ICC Youth World Cup in New Zealand next month.

Together we can make it! Guyana’s West Indies Under-19 selectees Keon Joseph (left) and Trevon Griffith (right) were caught executing a fitness run in the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with the national squad earlier this week. (Photo by Carl Croker)

“At the moment, I am feeling good and that has been possible thanks to the rigorous training schedule and fitness session I have been put under by the Cricket Development Officer of the Guyana Cricket Board, Reon King, and I will be looking to make the West Indies youth squad to New Zealand for the Youth World Cup early next year.”

The Young Achievers Sports Club fast bowler returned from Jamaica this year where he took 19 wickets and along with his 15 in the tournament held in Barbados last year feels confident he will be chosen to spearhead the Regional side’s bowling attack.

“Thanks to the preparatory camp which was organised by the GCB through King, I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of our fast bowlers in Esaun Crandon, Brandon Bess and even King himself and I took the time to get some pointers from these guys who have more experience than I.

Crandon was very encouraging while both Bess and King shared their views and even answered the questions I would ask from time to time, as I am still young and have a far way to go in the sport, especially as a fast bowler,” said Joseph.

He continued, “As a young fast bowler two years ago, I thought it was just bowling fast and scaring batsmen away with the pace you possess, but that was just my thoughts, for even though your pace can be threatening, you still have to possess other varieties within your armoury to get the opposition out.”

When asked about his injury Joseph, who is also called ‘Buff and Roll’ by his teammates, stated that the rest period he has had away from cricket-related activities has helped him recover 100% and he had a bowl in the nets at the Guyana National Stadium and is looking forward to having another one with the regional youth team.

“Right now, I am feeling as fit as a fiddle. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse and predict anything, but the way I am feeling right now, I think I can go and bamboozle the opposition out and along with the few tips I have been getting from the coaching staff and fellow players, I am ready and raring to go.”

In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, senior national coach Ravindranauth Seeram said he was very impressed with what he saw from the young fast bowler, who has displayed an exemplary work ethic in the camp, always willing to listen and learn.

“He (Joseph) was bowling very fast in our first net session yesterday (Wednesday), showing tremendous control and putting the balls in the right areas and at the same time, extracting lots of bounce from a good length. I think our preparatory camp has done a great deal for him, especially with regard to fitness.

I am impressed by his work ethics as a young fast bowler. He is willing to learn and is not afraid to ask questions of the coaches consistently when he is unsure of things, saying he knows this is for the good of his cricket and he needs to get it right at times and I wish him all the best in his endeavours at the camp,” Seeram stated.

The Young West Indies are in Group D with their first-round opponents Pakistan, whom they face on the January 15 at the Palmerstone North Ground, along with Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh respectively.