Trinidad and Tobago teenage opener Adrian Barath--a member of the victorious T&T team at the WICB President’s Cup tournament in Guyana--is looking forward to making his West Indies debut on the upcoming tour or Australia and he will be a little more at ease with national teammates Ravi Rampaul, Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin also in the regional squad.

’It is a great feeling for me being selected on the West Indies team again,’ said Barath, who noted his earlier selection for the home series against Bangladesh.

’I got selected against Bangladesh this year and I did not play because of the unfortunate situation (with the West Indies Players Association and the West Indies Cricket Board at loggerheads over contracts), but I am glad to see things back to normal, back to the full-strength West Indies team again.

’I think everyone was waiting on that and it is a wonderful feeling for me to have this opportunity again to represent the region. It will be challenging for me playing against Australia, but as a player you will have to face them and this will be the first time for me but, hopefully, I can rise to the challenge and play each ball on its merit,’ he added.

Speaking about his recent performances with the national team in the Champions League Twenty/20 tournament in India, Barath noted that it was a good experience for him and one which he used as a stepping stone in his development.

’The crowds in India are fanatical and to play in front of 70,000 people is not easy. It was a great opportunity and as players we grasp it and we learn from each opportunity and share it with our fellow-players in Trinidad.

’Dwayne Bravo, Daren Ganga, Denesh Ramdin...these guys have a lot of experience and these guys are leaders and this has been one of the main factors in our success,’ said Barath.

He also noted the team’s unity and ’good relationships’ on and off the field as another key reason for the national team’s success and having that relationship with Bravo, Ramdin and Rampaul may play a major role if the youngster is to be successful in Australia.

’I am an opening batsman and I am hoping to partner Chris Gayle if given the opportunity. I will be looking to give my best and give the West Indies a good start and set up the innings for the middle order, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul...My goal is to perform at my best, but the first thing is for me to get into the final XI,’ Barath added.

Barath insisted that he will have to make the mental adjustment and transition from one form of the game to the next and he is confident that he can make the switch and step up his game.

’Over the next couple of days I will be doing some batting in the nets and practicing and I will be practicing even more when I get to Australia to make sure I am ready for the challenge,’ he stated.

Barath leaves for Barbados on Tuesday when he will link up with the rest of the regional squad before they depart for Australia, where they play three Tests.

West Indies tour schedule

- November 18-21: vs Queensland at Allan Border Field, Queensland

- November 26-30: 1st Test at the Gabba, Brisbane

- December 4-8: 2nd Test at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

- December 16-20: 3rd Test at WACA Ground, Perth