…Permaul wants to help young players coming through

By Sean Devers in Trinidad
WHEN Albion’s emerging left-arm spinner Veersammy Permaul was selected to go to Grenada to make his First-Class debut against the Windwards in 2007 as a 17 year-old to replace Neil McGarrel, a new era of spin bowling in Guyana had begun replacing Nagamootoo/McGarrel period.

Bowling in tandem with leggie Davendra Bishoo (one of four Guyanese with 100 Tests wickets) until Bishoo played his last game in the aborted 2020 season, Permaul is now the leading wicket-taker in Regional First-Class Cricket.

“Devon smith was my first, First-Class wicket” said the 33-year-old Permaul after breaking fellow left-arm spinner Nakita Miller’s record.

The Jamaican took 511 wickets and when Permaul took 3-56 in the first innings of the Guyana Harpy Eagles/ T&T’s Red Force game which ended on Saturday last, the Berbican eclipsed Miller’s haul.

Back in 2006 Permaul had 4-83 on debut including Smith, who was caught behind by Derwin Christian for 34.

Permaul (before T&T’s 2nd innings) has played 132 First-Class matches and 582 wickets (512 for Guyana, 31 for West Indies in Tests, the other 39 wickets have come for West Indies A, Presidents 1X, Board X1 & West Indies Select X1).

Permaul, who has taken five or more wickets in an innings 31 times (best 8-18 in 2020) and seven 10-wicket match hauls, including a best of 15-77, told Guyana Chronicle how he felt on breaking the record.

“First I want thank God. I am very happy to achieve this milestone.” said Permaul, who in the 2015 Regional First-Class season took a record 67 wickets to help Guyana win the first of their five consecutive titles

“I had many memorable moments leading up to this (record) but what stands out for me was helping Guyana to win five Regional titles” added Permaul, who reached 50 wickets in a season on two more occasions.

In 2018 he took 50 from 10 games while 2020 he captured 50 wickets from eight games and was aiming to break his own record when the tournament was called off with two round remaining due the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I would say my biggest challenge when I first started to play for Guyana senior team as 17-year-old was that I had some bad and good time trying to understand what is required at this level. It was a process I had to go through to gain the experience that I have now” continued Permaul, who before the start of Red force’s second innings, had 14 wickets from three games this season.

Permaul, who has 31 five-wicket and seven 10-wicket hauls, says his goal is to “continue do what I have being doing over the years for my country, hopefully we can keep winning titles and help younger players coming through”

Permaul, who played for the West Indies U-19s in 2008, said that has not yet gotten a call from Miller.

“But I know we would meet up when Guyana play against Jamaica at home” stated Permaul. Miller is the assistant coach of the Jamaica Scorpions.

On November 2012 against Bangladesh in Dhaka when West Indies won by 77 runs. Many would remember Chanderpaul’s unbeaten double century but Permaul, on debut, played a part in that victory with four wickets in the game.

Bowling in tandem with Sunil Narine, his first of 31 Test scalps so far was Mushfiqur Rahim, caught and bowled.

In his nine Test matches, his best is 5-35 while his best match figures is 8-141, but has not played a Test since March last year against England in Barbados.

Permaul has also played seven ODIs since making his debut in 2012 but has played ODI cricket since April 2018 in Karachi when Pakistan beat West Indies by six wickets

Permaul’s 52-year-old mother’s body was found in a shallow grave last year April. She was killed by his father.

“I miss both of my parents but God knows best” said Permaul who was born in Belvedere Corentyne Berbice on August 11, 1989.

Permaul thanked his fans for their support over years.

“I really appreciate it, I looking forward for continuing support. I want to thank to Jesus Christ, my parent, my team mates, coaches, Mr Vemen Walters, my siblings and all who have playeda part in my journey this far” concluded Permaul

As a spinner, if he remains fit, Permaul could play at this level for at least five more years and could extend the record to way beyond the reach of anyone else, especially with the reduced matches in the Regional First-Class season.