He was outstanding with both gloves and bat in his initial series with the strike-hit team in Sri Lanka in 2005 and again in three Tests in Australia later that year but his standards have markedly fallen since. The selectors alternated him with the diminutive Jamaican, Carlton Baugh, in the last six ODI series but neither has seized the opportunity to claim the position as exclusively theirs.

The only other practical option is the West Indies A team keeper, Patrick Browne of Barbados. But he has been short of runs in the current domestic season and out of the Barbados team in the current Carib Beer Cup match against Jamaica.

Jeffrey Dujon, the most capped West Indies keeper with 81 Tests and 169 ODIs between 1981 and 1991, believes Ramdin might have slipped into a "comfort zone" after his early successes. "I sense that he hasn't appreciated the intensity needed at the highest level," said Dujon, who followed Ramdin in series in West Indies, India and Pakistan as television commentator over the past nine months.

"He's got to take his work ethic to another plane," he added. "He's got to pay serious attention to his mobility. For someone of his physical build, his foot speed is sluggish. He's trusting his hands more than he should."

Dujon revealed he had spoken on the matter with assistant coach David Moore, himself a former New South Wales wicketkeeper in Australian state cricket. "He accepted my comments and told me he was working with Ramdin to iron out the problems," he said. "What he needs is a set programme to be strictly followed."

Dujon also had doubts about Ramdin's fitness. "As the game wears on, I notice he's not staying down long enough, a sure sign of weariness that leads to elementary mistakes.” What bothers Dujon is that, on all the early evidence, Ramdin possesses the ability to maintain the legacy of West Indian wicketkeeper-batsmen such as Gerry Alexander, the Murrays (Deryck and David), himself and Jacobs over the past 40 years.

Ramdin's story is symptomatic of so many young West Indians of recent times who have made an immediate impression at Test level only to just as quickly deteriorate. It might well be that it all comes too easily, too early and they take success for granted.

Ramdin turns 22 next month, so there is plenty of time left for him to get back the groove again. It is up to him. The final match in the Pepsi Cup tomorrow would be a timely starting point. An unblemished day behind the stumps and some valuable runs would do wonders for his confidence and settle a place in the World Cup squad that remains open.

© Trinidad and Tobago Express

the west indian team need to find themselves a good permanent wicketkeeper. they have shown a few men such as denesh ramdin and carlton baugh who have the potential but are not performing consistently enough for the west indies. i believe it is time the west indies pays particular attention to that aspect of their game and sort it out quickly as they have a world cup approaching fast and ae under pressure to perform on their own turf. in earlier games against minnows, west indies should try out both wicketkeepers to see which is performing well before making their choice. though, it is quite evident that ramdin is winning the race for the spot though, for the benefit of his team, consistency should be his motto with both bat and gloves.

Ramdin redeemed himself a little bit with 40 runs and a stumping in the last match, but his ineptitude in the 2nd match beggared belief, and it wasn't the first time we've seen this sort of innings from him either, ie brainless. Look at what happened to Damien Martyn when he played an injudicious shot - 6 years it took him to be recalled I think. I know West Indies don't have the same talent pool, but a message needs to be sent to Ramdin by the selectors. Some harsh words, some time on the bench, and the threat of no World Cup action may spur him into action. And being hypercritical, one can wonder why Chanderpaul wasn't having some words with him when Ramdin was trying his best nearly with every delivery to get himself out, him being a former captain and all. And just to avoid any murmurings of politics involved in my comments let me state now that I'm a Trini. Come on Denesh - you have talent boy, shape up and use it!

I regard and respect the views of Tony Cozier, and Jeffery Dujon, immensely. I fail to forget Denesh Ramdin's first senior international series outing in Sri Lanka. He looked to me, 'The Next Big Thing'. I agree wholeheartedly, that the primeval intensity, needed to survive, and win in the world cricketing arena, seems to be extinct at the moment, when the West Indian cricketing team of the present era comes to mind.

With all the experts employed by the West Indies Cricket Board, I would really like to know who is counseling players when things are not going right. I have always maintained in the past, that Coaches are not required for seasoned campaigners.
Coaches are for young teenagers, who can work on their techniques to better their game.
The West Indies selectors should not discard a 22 year old player because he is making some elementary mistakes.
The Technical Staff should be responsible for correcting this.
Denesh Ramdin is an excellent Cricketer and something needs to de done to bring him back to his best.
West Indies Cricket will be in a better place if Denesh stays on the team.
He has a lot to offer in the rebuilding process.
Come on now.
Anzard Phundar.
Miramar, Florida.

With all the experts employed by the West Indies Cricket Board, I would really like to know who is counseling players when things are not going right. I have always maintained in the past, that Coaches are not required for seasoned campaigners.
Coaches are for young teenagers, who can work on their techniques to better their game.
The West Indies selectors should not discard a 22 year old player because he is making some elementary mistakes.
The Technical Staff should be responsible for correcting this.
Denesh Ramdin is an excellent Cricketer and something needs to de done to bring him back to his best.
West Indies Cricket will be in a better place if Denesh stays on the team.
He has a lot to offer in the rebuilding process.
Come on now.
Anzard Phundar.
Miramar, Florida.

I wholeheartedly agree with those comments. I have the same concern. I think the problem with these young players is that they get into the West Indies team too easily. Just think of how much cricket players like Viv Richards and others had to play to get into the team. There were great players like Irving Shillingford who played so many good years and could not make it into the team. The players of today need to appreciate what it means to play for the West Indies. Dwayne Smith is another big disappointment. This is really evidence of how the level of cricket has dropped in the West Indies. Can you imagine Barbados scoring 298 runs and giving Jamaica by an innings defeat. How can the West Indies team do any better. We need to get back to the ground level. Our domestic season is way too short. That is not enough cricket to pick a test team. In the United States in every sport each team each other at least 4 times, sometimes more.

This is so typical of Cozier to be angling for the inclusion of his fellow Barbadian Patrick Brown to become part of the senior West Indian team. Ramdin is young....why single him out when so many others on the squad aren't making the grade, for example, Dwayne Smith (another of Cozier's compatriots) whose continued selection boggles the mind. For all his purported talent, he continues to demonstrate a lack of "brain power" in his shot selection....he seems to be on the team simply for his fielding ability. Too many Trinis on the senior team for Mr. Cozier's tastes it would seem....and we've got more coming

Many people outside the Caribbean don't realise that Tony Cozier has lost the respect of many fans in the Caribbean for his insular writing and bias in favour of Bajans. His comments above however warrent some merit. Ramdin has obvious potential and needs to be reminded that he has to work very hard if he is to see that blossom on the international arena. Ramdin has the highest ODI average of any WI wicketkeeper in the last 10 yrs but that hides the fact his ODI can be split in two with the 2nd half having a much poorer record than the 1st. Cozier's obvious reluctance to name a sure replacement shows that there really isn't any choice but to stick with Ramdin for the world cup.

The coach needs to take Ramdin aside and teach him the basics of batting. Also, he should understand the meaning of the words, committment, dedication, focus, and agility. He should be raked over the coals for some of his shots when the game is on the line. As most West Indian cricketers take their place on the team as a given and the selectors and the captain must be tougher and harsher on Ramdin. Lara had no hesitation to drop Sarwan when he was no performing, and he, Sarwan is the Vice Captain, why is it that Lara cannot impose the same punishment on Ramdin. Drastic action must be taken against Ramdin, either he shapes up or be dropped from the World Cup Team. You need strength to be in the World Cup contenders and Ramdin is not one of your healthy pick the way he is playing.