The young West Indian batter, Alick Athanaze, has quickly developed into an impact player from a cautious debutant, leaving onlookers in awe of his talent. He was inspired by his cricketing hero, Brian Lara, and on his ODI debut against the UAE, he made waves in the cricketing world with an explosive half-century that solidified his place on the international scene.
Athanaze had the opportunity to work with Lara during the Test series the West Indies played in South Africa. He was able to hone his skills and increase his confidence through conversations with the renowned hitter.
When asked about his chats with Brian Lara, Athanaze remarked, “For me, it has been really good…judging lengths and trying to get ahead of the bowler,” as reported by India Today.
Athanaze’s success in cricket at the international level is evidence of his perseverance. Even though he had the most runs scored at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, it took him five years to earn a berth in the West Indies team. He didn’t participate in the ODI World Cup Qualifiers this year, but on July 12, he played in his first Test match against India.
Athanaze couldn’t sleep because of the stress of playing his first Test match against India at home. The moment was remarkable for his entire family because his parents were there to see him perform live. I didn’t sleep a lot, Athanaze admitted. I’m grateful for the opportunity. It was just exhilaration.
When the opportunity eventually came, Athanaze seized it with enthusiasm. Despite being denied a dream fifty by Shardul Thakur, his shot-making skills were evident. He hit six boundaries and one maximum in a commanding inning, and he displayed stability against pace and composure against spin.
Athanaze’s transformation from a novice to a confident test player has been amazing. His test debut against India gave him a chance to show off his talents and make his presence known on the global stage. Athanaze is ready to change West Indies cricket for the better, thanks to Lara’s influence and his own tenacity.
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