Baugh shrugs off negative thoughts, goes after the bowlers

In a West Indies team that is pretty much a work in progress, wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh is one of the three who can claim to be the finished product. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, their most capped Test player, and fast bowler Fidel Edwards are the other two.

The 29-year-old Jamaican knows what uncertainty means. He made his debut in April 2003, but neither his flashy batting nor his ’keeping stood out and he was dumped after five Tests. He did feature in many one-day games but often as a replacement than in his own right.

But the determined effort to improve his ’keeping and batting is paying off, and after he was recalled for last year’s Sri Lanka tour, he is slowly making an impression with his aggressive batting that has fetched him 11 first-class hundreds as well as his job behind the stumps.

After top-scoring with 60 on the second day of the final Test at Windsor Park, Baugh admitted he did look behind his shoulders at times, but was determined to cement his spot.

“I worked hard on my game, both on my wicket-keeping and batting during my time away,” he said. He won a mini battle with Munaf Patel as he played some audacious shots on Thursday afternoon.

“I pretty much play my game regardless of what has happened before,” he said, having come in to bat with the hosts down to five for 99. “I don't want to be a negative player and try and push and pull. I have a go and that has worked for me.”