Brian Lara helped Alick Athanaze overcome his fear and Shine on his test debut
The journey of Alick Athanaze from nervous debutant to impactful cricketer in a quick span of time has been nothing short of remarkable. Recently, the young West Indian batsman made headlines with his explosive half-century on his ODI debut against the UAE, showcasing his immense potential and announcing his arrival on the international stage.
While reflecting on his ODI match, Athanaze admitted that he was a bit nervous, but the nerves went away when he got his first runs, and it was good. Those first runs turned out to be the catalyst for an exceptional inning. His knock of 65 runs off 45 balls, including a staggering 51 runs in the power play, played a vital role in the West Indies' successful chase of 185, setting the tone for the team's comprehensive victory.
The cricketing journey of Athanaze has been influenced by his idol, Brian Lara, and he had the privilege of working with the legendary batter during the West Indies' Test series in South Africa. Conversations with Lara proved to be invaluable for Athanaze, as he explained, "For me, it has been really good...judging lengths and trying to get ahead of the bowler."