By Elroy Stephney

EVEN at the age of 48, former Essequibo inter-county all-rounder Basil Persaud is still batting majestically.

The resolutely durable Essequibian, who hails from the village of Walton Hall, is still highly acclaimed in his county, having represented several clubs as well as two area committees.
The aggressive right-handed opening batsman had a dream season last year with his adopted Everest Masters Club of Georgetown, where he registered two centuries including one against the England Foundation cricket team which toured Guyana last year.

In addition, he scored over 12 club centuries while representing Devonshire Castle, Ravens, Pomeroon and North Essequibo cricket committees.
The dynamic all-rounder has had many unforgettable innings, labelling his outstanding 121 against Cavaliers Sports Club in 2010 as his most memorable.
In recent times he has had an active schedule playing in several countries including Trinidad, Jamaica, Suriname and the United States.

He has attributed his longevity in the game to remaining physically fit, committed and engaging in constant practice. He was also proud to have competed against the likes of Clayton Lambert, Sudesh Dhaniram and Rabindranauth Seeram on the local scene while he also teamed up against foreign players including Trinidadian Suruj Ragoonauth and Barbadian Raymon Reifer.

The former Sports Officer is also a junior cricket coach and has been instrumental in conducting coaching clinics with several clubs across the Essequibo Coast.
He is also a sitting RDC Councillor who previously chaired the Sports Sub- Committee where he has advocated for the establishment of an Annual Awards Ceremony to recognise the sterling contributions of the Region’s sportsmen and sportswomen.

He also served as a member of the Essequibo Cricket Board as well as representative to the Guyana Cricket Board on the Cricket Development Committee.
The attractive opener remains quite a dangerous threat to any bowler since he can drive, cut and pull with unrestrained authority and precision.

His sojourn, though, in the twilight of his career is his ‘second coming’ according to him, even as he continues to enjoy a successful season with his respective clubs.
He has since committed himself towards many more graceful innings whether in Essequibo, Georgetown or overseas as a loyal and dedicated student of the game.
His advice to young cricketers is to remain disciplined and inculcate the right attitude towards training.

He is also appealing to the relevant authorities to reintroduce cricket into the school system. It is his belief that the schools are the first step towards the emergence of the next generation of outstanding cricketers.

For the moment, though, Basil Persaud continues to bat with consummate elegance and artistry while expressing confidence in having another productive season in 2018.