King out Red Stripe, Carib Beer series

GEORGETOWN: Guyanese fast bowler Reon King is anxious to return to the senior West Indies team after two years in the wilderness.

In an exclusive interview from Newcastle, England, where he represents South Northumberland in the North East Premier League, King said he learnt a lot since being dropped and as a result is a much better player with plenty to offer the regional team. “I did a lot of work on my cricket, especially fielding. I refined my bowling action and worked on getting fitter and stronger, and as a result I am now injury free, my confidence is back and my fitness level is high.” During this time he also completed a Level Two Coaching Course as well as read numerous books on psychology. With a beautiful run up and nice high action, King was touted as the natural successor to greats Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, before injury and loss of form resulted in him being omitted from the regional team after the second one-day international in Kenya in 2001.

Now, he explains that his mechanics are a lot better and  “when bowling the ball is coming out very well.” “I’ve also found back my off-cutter, which was my main wicket-taking ball, and which I lost during the period leading up to my dropping. “However, during the Carib Beer competition, and over here in England, I have been able to bowl that delivery again.” The lanky pacer said his plans to get back into the West Indies team suffered a big blow when he was left out of  the Guyana team for the Carib Beer semi-final against Jamaica. Although keen to represent the West Indies, King may have ruled himself out of the team’s year-end engagements after accepting an offer to play first class cricket for Northerns Cricket Union in South Africa. The season runs from October to March, which means that King would miss the Red Stripe Bowl and Carib Beer competitions in which he must appear to be available for selection.