West Indies hopeful Ruel Brathwaite (right) at a recent training session under the watchful eye of former West Indies player Seymour Nurse. (Picture by Charles Pitt-Grant.)

by EZRA STUART

THERE IS a young, strongly built Barbadian fast bowler waiting in the wings to represent the West Indies.

But 21-year-old Ruel Brathwaite, who won a cricket scholarship to Loughborough University in England, four years ago, wants to complete his studies in civil engineering at Dulwich College before pursuing the maroon cap.

He is now back home on holiday and has been training with the Barbados team which opposed defending champions Trinidad and Tobago in the opening match of the Carib Beer Cup at the Mount Gay North Stars Ground in Crab Hill, St Lucy last week.

He will be returning next week to England where he has another 18 months left before he completes his studies but maintains he is eager to play for Barbados and West Indies.

"I will come back to Barbados because I want to play for the West Indies. I would like some English county experience as well. Having that experience coming back to Barbados would help to not only build my game but that of some of the youngsters as well," Brathwaite told MIDWEEK SPORT in an interview at the Yorkshire Sports Club recently.

"It was always my dream to play for the West Indies as long as I could remember but I am also interested in the academic side of it because accidents can happen. I am just trying to plan ahead in case my cricket career doesn't work out, I would have something to fall back on.

"I also believe the academic helps with the cricket because these days you are looking at thinking cricketers," he said.

Earlier this year, Brathwaite, who has played three first-class matches, created a stir in England when he represented the British Universities against the touring Sri Lanka Test side and got among the wickets.

"That was a great experience. You watch these guys on television and you match yourself up against them and look for what makes them go to the next level," he said.

"You then see what it would take for you to get to that level also. The Sri Lankans are quite focused. It was mentally challenging and tiring as well. It took a lot out of me but I would love to play at that level; to rub shoulders with some of the world's best players," he added.

While in England, Brathwaite has been attached to the Surrey Second Division team for the past three years and he played a match for Leicestershire in 2005.

"Surrey are still very interested in me even though they know that I plan to play for West Indies because they have me playing all these Second Eleven games and that speaks for itself. Leicestershire are also very interested. They usually come down to my nets at Loughborough and watch the practice," he said.

Brathwaite said he has benefited from studying and playing cricket in England for the past four years.

"It has been difficult but I set my mind to the task. I wanted to experience cricket in a different country and to play under different conditions and I think it has been a great experience. I think a lot of the coaching methods they adopt and the technology in England is pretty spot-on, so it helps develop your cricket," Brathwaite added.

ezrastuart@nationnews.com