Joseph aiming to score heavily on England tour

ST JOHN’S: Uncapped batsman Sylvester Joseph says he aims to “score runs” in an effort to establish himself on the West Indies Test team during the England tour next month. The 25-year-old Antiguan, still to make his Test debut despite playing eight One-Day Internationals, said his selection in the 16-man squad represents a chance to establish himself at the highest level. “I always wanted to do that from since growing up and this is an opportunity for me to grab a hold of,” Joseph told Observer Sports.

“This is the last step for me to go there and be the best that I can and be productive. My ultimate goal is to score runs.”  The right-hander said selection came as a result of “hard work.” “I feel very good. It is reward for hard work. I’ve been working hard, being patient, scoring runs and when you do well you want to be rewarded. I think it is good that I’ve been rewarded.”  Joseph scored 517 runs in 2004 Carib Beer Series for the Leeward Islands, hitting a top score of 195 against the visiting Kenyan side in a high-scoring match at the Ronald Webster Park in Anguilla. “I think that anyone who scores 500 runs in a competition is really up for selection,” he said.  “I’m really happy I got over 500 runs and I think it was the result of hard work and dedication.”  His performance in the regional First-Class season earned him a call up in the West Indies squad for the fourth and final Test match against England Antigua but he did not make final XI.
 
“When I looked at the team. (I knew Ricardo) Powell was travelling with the team throughout and I thought if there was an opportunity he would have the first choice. So I was looking at it from that basis so I wasn’t really disappointed when I was (not given the nod),” he said. “I would have loved to have made my debut in Antigua. But looking at the situation it was only rewarding for Powell to get his chance,” he said. Joseph played three matches versus England and Bangladesh in the one-day series.

He was dropped down the order against Bangladesh in last two rain-affected one-dayers, which could have affected his chances of selection on the England tour.  But Joseph said he was not worried.  “I can’t say I knew what the selectors were looking for because I didn’t really get a good opportunity and everybody saw that. So basically it was up to the selectors. I went and did what I had to do and that’s the most important thing,” said the former Windies youth team captain. He said he will be preparing well for the English conditions where the ball swings and seams more.  “As a professional cricketer or in anything you do, any condition (confronting you) you have to adjust and adapt. I’m a batsman and I have to adapt to the pitches and I think this is the opportunity that I have to grab hold of.
 
“I played in (England) in 2001 (for Shaw in a minor league in Manchester) and I had a really good season. I enjoyed batting up there so I think just to get there and get started, I think I will do well.”  He has been representing Antigua and Barbuda in the Leeward Islands tournament and he thinks playing competitive cricket now aids his preparation. “The (Windies) team is in England already (playing in the triangular one-day series involving New Zealand). I’m on my own now. This (Leewards tournament) is a good opportunity for me to go score some runs. “I have some physical (preparation) to do.

I have a training programme from the physiotherapist and the trainer of the West Indies team. I will work on them. I’m going to prepare myself because I know what it’s all about. I’ve been there and I know the condition I should be in, so I’m going to prepare myself and I know the Almighty is on my side all the time and he is going to make a way for me in the situation, so I’m pretty confident.” Joseph has so far scored two centuries in the 2004 Leewards tournament, helping Antigua and Barbuda to four consecutive wins and retention of their title for the fourth straight year.