'Frisco' kid jumps on Windies bandwagon

When news broke that Ravindranath ‘Frisco’ Rampaul was selected for the West Indies team, celebrations started in central Trinidad. The bars of San Francisco Village, nestled in the Central Range, in Preysal were opened and drinks started flowing as the sleepy village came alive with the emergence of a star. Last Saturday the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced that Ravi Rampaul was one of six fast bowlers chosen to tour Zimbabwe later this month for the Test and one day series. Since then there has been celebration in San Francisco with a village outpouring love for a favourite son of the soil.

Ravi was born to Siewdath and Parbattie Rampaul in 1985 at San Francisco and from an early age showed his love for the game of cricket. He started off playing in his family’s backyard and soon he was on his school’s team — Preysal Government School. “I clearly remember my school cricket days and playing during the lunch and recess breaks. When the school team was selected I was chosen as the opening batsman and opening bowler. At that time I used to bowl fast off-breaks and concentrated more on my batting.” In 1998 the Clico Preysal Sports club was demoted to division II of the Carib National league and there was a move by the executive to revive the club. Sports promoter Anthony Harford made the journey to Central and started off firstly by telling the executive they needed a youth programme if they were to succeed. Ravi was one of the youths in the area who was chosen to come to the club for training.

This is when big West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop who was contracted by the club spotted Ravi. “After seeing me bowl in the nets Ian Bishop was pleased and thought that I had some talent as a fast bowler.” Bishop was captain of Clico Preysal cricket club when Rampaul started his career and gave the youngster then 14 years old, the new ball to open the bowling with him against the Munroe Road team. From that point he never looked back and has the greatest respect for Bishop.  “Ian has always been at my side giving me advice and correcting my faults. He has been great to me and I must let you know that it is not only cricket he has helped me with. Sometimes in the night he would call me at home and talk about life and what I should and shouldn’t do. Once he told me that success will come my way if I am prepared to work hard at my game.” Rampaul was next selected for the Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 team and was instrumental in bringing home the regional title to Trinidad and Tobago for the first time. His effort was noticed by the West Indies selectors and he was chosen to represent the region at the Lombard World Cup in England in 2000. It is now history that the West Indies won the U-15 title and Rampaul was a star performer with both bat and ball.

On his return to Trinidad and Tobago he was celebrated and everyone kept an eye on him. He was taken to Presentation College Chaguanas by the club and started his secondary education there. In the meantime he was still playing cricket for Preysal and the Central Zone. In 2002 he was selected on the senior Trinidad and Tobago cricket team and given a debut against Barbados. He surprised all with his pace and accuracy and was then chosen as a fixture on the local team for the 2003 season. Earlier this year Ravi with a record-breaking bowling performance led Trinidad and Tobago to the regional Under-19 cricket double. His impressive fast bowling and obvious potential with the bat made him an automatic choice on the West Indies Under-19 team for the World Cup and the Red Stripe series. It was while bowling in the Red Stripe Bowl that Rampaul caught the eyes of the West Indies senior selectors and in particular chairman of the panel Sir Viv Richards. He bowled with pace and hostility and Richards wanted him on the team for the Zimbabwe tour. In the meantime Ravi is just keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground and intends to work hard to achieve further success for the West Indies and for Trinidad and Tobago.