Ravi Rampaul
Encyclopedia
Ravindranath Rampaul is a West Indian cricket
er. He is the first quick bowler of Indian descent to represent West Indies at international level, playing Test
s, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 International
s. Capable of decent pace and accuracy from a simple, smooth bowling action, Rampaul has been identified, along with Jerome Taylor
, as a potential leader of the West Indies bowling attack in the years to come.
, and at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup, before breaking the record wicket tally in the regional youth tournament in West Indies after taking 45 wickets in five matches during the 2002 tournament. The following season, he took 27 wickets, as Trinidad and Tobago won their first youth title since 1987. By that time, however, he had also made his first class debut, playing three Busta Cup matches for Trinidad and Tobago during the 2001–02 season and taking six wickets.
taking more for Trinidad and Tobago
that season, Rampaul was selected for West Indies Under-19s
in the 2003–04 Red Stripe Bowl one-day
tournament. Rampaul was leading wicket-taker for the U-19 team, as his eight wickets was double that of any other, and after the tournament completed, Rampaul was called up to represent West Indies in their tour of Zimbabwe in October and November.
Rampaul went wicketless in his first game, sending down 13 no-balls in 30 overs, and was not selected for either of the two Test matches. However, after taking two wickets, including opener Dion Ebrahim
, in the one-day warm-up match against Zimbabwe A
, Rampaul played in four of the five ODIs. He failed to take a wicket in the series, which West Indies eventually claimed 3–2 with a win in the final game, and Rampaul was the most expensive West Indian bowler among those bowling more than four overs per game,
Rampaul also went to the South African leg of the tour, and recorded his first five-wicket-haul in first class cricket, taking five of the first six wickets in a tour match against Free State. They were 86 for six after West Indies had posted 618, and Rampaul ended with figures of five for 55. Rampaul played all three tour games, but once again was left out of the Test matches. After "impressing" in a one-day tour match against South Africa A
, he was left out of the team for the first ODI, but replaced Vasbert Drakes
for the second match after West Indies had lost the first by 209 runs. Rampaul picked up the wicket of Jacques Kallis
for 16, and contributed 24 runs, his highest ODI total to date, but was last out as West Indies lost by 16 runs. He removed Kallis again in the final ODI, when West Indies had a chance to level the 5-match series to 2–2 (with one match rained off), but Kallis had already made his best ODI score to date, scoring 135 as South Africa chased the West Indian total of 304 for two. Rampaul's ten overs cost 56 runs, but he was praised for a "marvellous late effort"
After once again playing in the Under-19 World Cup, taking nine wickets as West Indies reached the final but ultimately lost to Pakistan, Rampaul played in all five ODIs against England
at home, taking four wickets but once again being the most expensive of the regular bowlers. Between 1 October 1998 and 14 July 2006 only Tino Best
conceded more wides and no-balls per ten overs in ODIs for the West Indies.
, but was not selected to play, and one month later, he was struck with injury. He had played three matches during the 2004
NatWest Series
, recording his best ODI figures with two wickets, Geraint Jones
and Andrew Strauss
, for 34 in a seven-wicket win over England
, but due to a shin injury he took no further part in the series, and flew home before the Test matches. Rampaul returned to cricket when he turned up in Trinidad league cricket in February 2005, and represented Trinidad and Tobago again during the 2005–06 KFC Cup in October, where he played four matches and was Trinidad and Tobago's leading wicket-taker along with Samuel Badree. However, Rampaul sustained a leg injury, and did not play any games during the first class Carib Beer Series, which his team won.
to Trinidad and Tobago, and attended coaching sessions in Australia.
Rampaul became Ireland's overseas player for the 2008 Friends Provident Trophy
. He helped them win their first FP Trophy game for two years against Warwickshire
. In six matches for Ireland Rampaul took 10 wickets at an average of 28.70, with best bowling figures of 3/40.
Pakistan toured the West Indies
in April and May 2011 for a T20I, five ODIs, and two Tests. Osman Samiuddin remarked that during the Tests Rampaul "ran in precisely with the enthusiasm of a man unable to believe how his career has suddenly soared, racing in so the dream doesn't suddenly end".
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. He is the first quick bowler of Indian descent to represent West Indies at international level, playing Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
s, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 International
Twenty20 International
A Twenty20 International is a form of cricket which is played over 20 overs per side between two national cricket teams. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket...
s. Capable of decent pace and accuracy from a simple, smooth bowling action, Rampaul has been identified, along with Jerome Taylor
Jerome Taylor
Jerome Everton Taylor is a Jamaican born West Indian cricketer. He led the fast bowling attack comprising Dwayne Bravo, Daren Powell and Ian Bradshaw at the World Cup...
, as a potential leader of the West Indies bowling attack in the years to come.
Youth cricket
Rampaul played youth cricket for West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago, playing at the World Under-15 Challenge in England in 20002000 English cricket season
The 2000 English cricket season was marked by the dominance of Surrey in first-class cricket and Gloucestershire in limited overs.-Honours:*County Championship - Surrey*NatWest Trophy - Gloucestershire*National League - Gloucestershire...
, and at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup, before breaking the record wicket tally in the regional youth tournament in West Indies after taking 45 wickets in five matches during the 2002 tournament. The following season, he took 27 wickets, as Trinidad and Tobago won their first youth title since 1987. By that time, however, he had also made his first class debut, playing three Busta Cup matches for Trinidad and Tobago during the 2001–02 season and taking six wickets.
International career
After playing six further matches during the 2002–03 season, and taking 18 wickets, with only Marlon BlackMarlon Black
Marlon Ian Black is a former West Indian cricketer who played in six Tests and five ODIs, debuting in the year 2000....
taking more for Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago cricket team
The Trinidad and Tobago cricket team is the representative cricket team of the country of Trinidad and Tobago.The team takes part in inter-regional cricket competitions in the Caribbean, such as the Regional Four Day Competition and the WICB Cup, with the best players selected for the West Indies...
that season, Rampaul was selected for West Indies Under-19s
West Indian U-19 cricket team
The West Indian Under-19 cricket team have been playing official Under-19 test matches since 1974. Future international players to have represented the team include Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Courtney Walsh....
in the 2003–04 Red Stripe Bowl one-day
One-day cricket
Limited overs cricket, also known as one-day cricket and in a slightly different context as List A cricket, is a version of the sport of cricket in which a match is generally completed in one day, whereas Test and first-class matches can take up to five days to complete...
tournament. Rampaul was leading wicket-taker for the U-19 team, as his eight wickets was double that of any other, and after the tournament completed, Rampaul was called up to represent West Indies in their tour of Zimbabwe in October and November.
Rampaul went wicketless in his first game, sending down 13 no-balls in 30 overs, and was not selected for either of the two Test matches. However, after taking two wickets, including opener Dion Ebrahim
Dion Ebrahim
Dion Digby Ebrahim is a Zimbabwean cricketer.Ebrahim is a defensive batsmen who prefers to score cautiously in order to build an innings...
, in the one-day warm-up match against Zimbabwe A
Zimbabwe A cricket team
The Zimbabwe A cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. It is the 'second-tier' of international Zimbabwean cricket, below the full Zimbabwe national cricket team. Matches played by Zimbabwe A are not considered to be Test matches or One Day Internationals, instead receiving...
, Rampaul played in four of the five ODIs. He failed to take a wicket in the series, which West Indies eventually claimed 3–2 with a win in the final game, and Rampaul was the most expensive West Indian bowler among those bowling more than four overs per game,
Rampaul also went to the South African leg of the tour, and recorded his first five-wicket-haul in first class cricket, taking five of the first six wickets in a tour match against Free State. They were 86 for six after West Indies had posted 618, and Rampaul ended with figures of five for 55. Rampaul played all three tour games, but once again was left out of the Test matches. After "impressing" in a one-day tour match against South Africa A
South Africa A cricket team
The South Africa A cricket team is a national cricket team representing South Africa. It is the 'second-tier' of international South African cricket, below the full South Africa national cricket team. Matches played by South Africa A are not considered to be Test matches or One Day...
, he was left out of the team for the first ODI, but replaced Vasbert Drakes
Vasbert Drakes
Vasbert Conniel Drakes is a West Indian cricketer. He was a right-arm fast bowler and handy right-hand lower order batsman....
for the second match after West Indies had lost the first by 209 runs. Rampaul picked up the wicket of Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis
Jacques Henry Kallis is a South African cricketer. As an all-rounder he is a formidable right-handed batsman and fast-medium swingbowler. He is one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, being the only cricketer in the history of the game to hold more than 12,000 runs and 250 wickets in both...
for 16, and contributed 24 runs, his highest ODI total to date, but was last out as West Indies lost by 16 runs. He removed Kallis again in the final ODI, when West Indies had a chance to level the 5-match series to 2–2 (with one match rained off), but Kallis had already made his best ODI score to date, scoring 135 as South Africa chased the West Indian total of 304 for two. Rampaul's ten overs cost 56 runs, but he was praised for a "marvellous late effort"
After once again playing in the Under-19 World Cup, taking nine wickets as West Indies reached the final but ultimately lost to Pakistan, Rampaul played in all five ODIs against England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
at home, taking four wickets but once again being the most expensive of the regular bowlers. Between 1 October 1998 and 14 July 2006 only Tino Best
Tino Best
Tino la Bertram Best is a West Indian cricketer.Short in stature, Tino Best is a fast and aggressive bowler with a bowling average of 48.67 in Test cricket....
conceded more wides and no-balls per ten overs in ODIs for the West Indies.
Injury problems
Rampaul was also selected in a 13-man squad to play the first home Test against BangladeshBangladeshi cricket team
The Bangladesh national cricket team is a national cricket team representing Bangladesh. The team is administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board . Bangladesh is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status...
, but was not selected to play, and one month later, he was struck with injury. He had played three matches during the 2004
2004 English cricket season
The 2004 English cricket season saw the English cricket team record a 4-0 Test series whitewash over the West Indies. Their one-day form was poor, however. In the Natwest Trophy, they failed to make the final, which saw New Zealand defeat the West Indies by 107 runs. And in the Natwest Challenge,...
NatWest Series
NatWest Series
The NatWest Series is the name used for One Day International cricket tournaments held in England since 2000. The tournaments are sponsored by the National Westminster Bank.-2000 to 2005: triangular series:...
, recording his best ODI figures with two wickets, Geraint Jones
Geraint Jones
Geraint Owen Jones MBE is an England cricketer of Welsh extraction but raised in Australia. Until August 2006 he was the first-choice wicketkeeper for England in both Test and One-day cricket, but fell behind Chris Read, Paul Nixon, Matt Prior and Tim Ambrose...
and Andrew Strauss
Andrew Strauss
Andrew John Strauss, OBE is an English cricketer who plays county cricket for Middlesex County Cricket Club and is the captain of England's Test cricket team. A fluent left-handed opening batsman, Strauss favours scoring off the back foot, mostly playing cut and pull shots...
, for 34 in a seven-wicket win over England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
, but due to a shin injury he took no further part in the series, and flew home before the Test matches. Rampaul returned to cricket when he turned up in Trinidad league cricket in February 2005, and represented Trinidad and Tobago again during the 2005–06 KFC Cup in October, where he played four matches and was Trinidad and Tobago's leading wicket-taker along with Samuel Badree. However, Rampaul sustained a leg injury, and did not play any games during the first class Carib Beer Series, which his team won.
Return from injury
In July 2006, Rampaul was awarded a cricket scholarship by the Australian High CommissionerHigh Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to Trinidad and Tobago, and attended coaching sessions in Australia.
Rampaul became Ireland's overseas player for the 2008 Friends Provident Trophy
2008 Friends Provident Trophy
The 2008 Friends Provident Trophy was an English county cricket tournament, held between April 20 and August 16, 2008. The tournament was won by Essex.- Format :...
. He helped them win their first FP Trophy game for two years against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
. In six matches for Ireland Rampaul took 10 wickets at an average of 28.70, with best bowling figures of 3/40.
Pakistan toured the West Indies
Pakistani cricket team in the West Indies in 2011
The Pakistani cricket team toured the West Indies from 18 April to 24 May 2011. The tour consisted of two Tests, one Twenty20 and five One Day Internationals .-Squads:-Tour matches:-Only T20I:-1st ODI:-2nd ODI:-3rd ODI:-4th ODI:...
in April and May 2011 for a T20I, five ODIs, and two Tests. Osman Samiuddin remarked that during the Tests Rampaul "ran in precisely with the enthusiasm of a man unable to believe how his career has suddenly soared, racing in so the dream doesn't suddenly end".