It takes a lot to live up to a great family legacy but Justin Guillen, who has cricket embedded in his genes passed on by previous generations, has taken on the responsibility with open arms.

Guillen, who last week was selected on the Trinidad and Tobago 20/20 squad for this month’s Stanford Super Series, is the great nephew of Simpson Clairmonte Guillen, better known as ’Sammy’ Guillen.

Sammy is one of only 14 men to play Test cricket for two countries, having represented both the West Indies and New Zealand.

Now 84 years old, he made his debut for the regional squad as a wicket-keeper/batsman on the 1951/52 tour to Australia and played five Tests for the Windies Down Under.

Less than four years later, having taken up residence on the far side of the world, Sammy Guillen lined up for New Zealand in three Tests against his former team, helping the Kiwis to their first-ever Test victory, although they lost the series 3-1.

Not many would know that Sammy Guillen stumped Alf Valentine to seal New Zealand’s maiden triumph--after 26 years and 45 matches--by 190 runs on that 1955/56 tour.

Sammy retired from international cricket immediately after that series, but returned to T&T in 1962 and played that season with Queen’s Park, alongside the club’s current cricket administrator Bryan Davis.

He did not stay on, though, and went back to New Zealand.

His achievements are well known in the family circle here in Trinidad and now his 22-year-old great nephew has his sights set on the Super Series and building a reputation on and off the field that would make his predecessors proud.

Justin only met his great uncle once, when he was ten, but was aware of his exploits as a Test player.

’At the time, I was not so serious about cricket as I am now,’ he noted, adding: ’I played it for fun and I knew he had played for the West Indies and New Zealand and the most training I would have had with him, so to speak, was a bit of cricket in the back yard.

’It was fun having him around and maybe one day I will get a chance to speak with him again on cricketing terms.’

Looking back at his rich family history in the game, it was no surprise that Justin would eventually be groomed for a career in cricket and he knew there would be great expectations of him when he joined Queen’s Park Cricket Club at age 14, under the guidance of then fourth team skipper, his uncle Paul Guillen.

’My family was always supportive of me, 100 per cent, and Paul had a big influence on me...he gave me countless words of advice. He was very encouraging and supportive,’ Justin recalled.

And Noel Guillen, Justin’s grandfather, who died in 1987, was another great personality in the family tree, playing for Queen’s Park and Trinidad and Tobago.

Noel, who only played three first class matches, would be best remembered for his work in the development of young players at the club level.

Queen’s Park official Davis noted that Noel Guillen started their Sunday coaching school in 1956 and was very much involved with the youth development programme at the club and, as a tribute after his death, the Queen’s Park practice nets were named after him.

Justin did not have the privilege of knowing his grandfather, but hearing about him and his contribution to cricket gave the youngster some motivation.

Justin’s father, Jeffrey Guillen, son of Noel Guillen, also played for Queen’s Park in his youth and was another influence on his son when he was growing up.

’I know that I come from a cricket family and it puts a lot of pressure on me in some ways...pressure for me to perform and live up to the Guillen name, but it also gives me encouragement to perform at my best,’ said Justin.

He also noted the contribution of coach Ian Thacker during a six-week coaching clinic in Australia in 2006.

’It was a time I made a lot of changes to my technique and I think it made me a better player,’ said the Queen’s Park first team skipper.

When he returned to Trinidad, Justin fell under the wings of his other uncle, Charles Guillen, Jeffrey’s brother.

’Charles Guillen is my coach and he also coached (T&T and West Indies all-rounder) Dwayne Bravo from a very young age...he is very knowledgeable about cricket, technically and mentally, and he has really helped me a lot in these areas.

’I have been working with him for the last two and a half years but more closely over the last seven or eight months. We have been spending a lot of time together in the nets and also chatting about cricket.’

However, everything has not been all peaches and cream for Justin, who has also had a first-hand look at the sordid side of life in Trinidad.

He was kidnapped in 2005 and held for 12 days before being released.

’The ordeal,’ said Justin, ’brought me closer to my brother and family members and I now have a greater appreciation of what I have in terms of friends and family.

’It was definitely a motivating factor and it encouraged me to be the best I can be.’

Now, after being selected on the national team, he may have the family name but Justin insisted that he has a long way to go in terms of developing his game and there is still a lot he can learn from the wealth of experience in his family tree, pointing to a book his great uncle wrote, entitled ’Calypso Kiwi’, which was released in New Zealand a few years ago.

The book is an autobiography of the Test player and is one of the ways Justin has gotten to know about his family’s cricket ancestry and the role they played in the development of the sport in T&T.

He now has the chance to forge his own identity and make his mark in the game.