CRICKET WEST INDIES

Baugh collected a ball from leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo down the leg side and waited for the batsman to lift his foot. The keeper then quickly broke the stumps to remove the bails. It was a superb stumping to get rid of the dangerous batsman who topscored with 55 at better than a run-a-ball.
 

It was the right move at the right time for the Windies who bowled out the home side for 209 to take a first innings lead of 95. They will enter Tuesday’s third day with an overall lead of 116 with eight second innings wickets in hand.
 

“The hard work that I have been putting in off the field is what is helping me when I go onto the field. I always try to do extra (drills) after our training sessions are finished to improve my skills as well as my concentration,” the 29-year-old said.
 

He explained the stumping: “My timing had to be spot. It is something I have been working on ... to look for those opportunities to get wickets for the team. In the series against India at home earlier this year I noticed that some of the Indian batsmen would sometime ‘off-balance’ when they played the spin so I was looking for a chance to get a dismissal and get that breakthrough. I worked well today.”
 

He added: “It was a good day for me behind the stumps and as a team we played some pretty good cricket out there under pressure. What was very important was the way we stuck together and did not drop our heads when the batsmen got off to a flying start. As the keeper and someone who has a good view of the way the game is flowing, it is vital that I always look to keep everyone motivated and focussed.”
 

Baugh started playing cricket as a leg-spinner but switched to keeping wicket while a student at the Wolmer’s Boys School in Kingston, Jamaica. The school has produced six West Indies Test wicket-keepers. The others are: Karl Nunes, Ivan Barrow, Gerry Alexander, Jackie Hendricks and Jeffery Dujon.
 

“As a young cricketer I always liked wicket-keeping but there was no place in the team for me as a keeper so I used to bowl some leg-breaks. Whenever I got the chance to go behind the stumps I would take it and try to improve my keeping. Jeffery Dujon was my idol growing up. I knew he went to Wolmer’s and I wanted to follow in his footsteps and become an outstanding West Indies wicket-keeper as well.”
 

David Williams, the West Indies Assistant Coach, has been working closely with Baugh and said he was delighted with his progress. Captain Darren Sammy also praised the keeper for his good work over the last 12 months.
 

“The efforts of Carlton Baugh really helped the team. He held onto some difficult chances, some crucial dismissals. That catch of V.V.S Laxman and then the stumping of Sehwag, these are things that motivate the team. Those kinds of performances really lift a team. You could see the energy levels on the field after Carlton pulled off that brilliant work,” Sammy said.
 

Williams, a former West Indies keeper noted: “I am very happy with what I am seeing. The stumping of Sehwag was unbelievable, the way he moved to get himself in the right position was a joy to see. His timing had to be spot. The catching, especially low down, was also good. He is reaping rewards for the hard work. He is very calm behind and stumps and you can see he is enjoying his cricket.”