Derick Narine Aiming To Lift 100 Tons

Derick Narine was born in Berbice, Guyana on January 14, 1996. He’s now 24 years old and lives in Queens, New York. Derick migrated to the USA in 2013 and currently represents Majestic Cricket Club in the Commonwealth Cricket League, Washington Tigers in the Washington Cricket League, Dhaka Vipers in the New York Bangladesh Cricket League, and Bachan in the New York National Cricket League.

Some of the major teams he has played for are a Guyana Select Under-19 in 2013, New York Senior Regional Team in 2015, USA Cricket Academy in 2014 and 2015 in India, and a USA Universities XI in Trinidad, West Indies.

USAcricketers.com asked Derick Narine to respond to the following questions, and from his answers you can see he’s very anxious to score 100 centuries before he hangs up his proverbial cricket boots.

What is your best cricket memory so far?
My greatest cricket memory so far was representing the USA Cricket Academy in Gujrat, India in 2014, where I scored back-to-back centuries against the Gujrat and Baroda teams, both of which are Ranji Trophy teams. After scoring the first century the feeling was great but to get another in the next match, that feeling I couldn’t explain with words.

What do you remember about the first cricket match you attended and at which ground?
The first cricket match that I remember attending was a 2007 ICC 50-Overs Cricket World Cup fixture – West Indies vs Sri Lanka at Providence, Guyana. My primary school had won the National Primary School Kiddies Cricket tournament that year, and we earned the chance to sit in the VIP stand at the Providence Cricket Ground.

I also had a chance to meet many of the players and enjoyed a halftime walk around the field. The match was amazing, but the one part that stood out to me was, Malinga running into to bowl to Chanderpaul and cartwheeling the batsman’s off-stump almost to the wicketkeeper. Our halftime stroll around the field was shown live on TV worldwide. It was a breathtaking moment, and after the game, it was a magnificent feeling to be in the locker room with the players I looked up to and idolized.

What is the funniest thing you ever saw happen on the cricket field?
The funniest thing I witnessed on the cricket field was in Barbados. My team was fielding, and the ball was driven well and was racing to the boundary, and my teammate chasing the ball slid over the boundary rope and rolled down the hill. Another occasion was in Florida during a regional tournament. I was in the field and one of my team’s bowlers got hit so far that no fielder wanted to go for the ball.

Who are some people you most enjoyed speaking to and learned the most from during your cricketing career, so far?
The main person who’s been there since day one and always advising and motivating me, has been my dad. He knows the game very well and when he watches me play, he can see all of my mistakes and he helps me to make the necessary corrections to becoming a better player.

What milestone do you want to accomplish before you stop playing cricket?
The milestone I would like to accomplish most is scoring 100 centuries in the USA. At age 24 and playing only six seasons so far, I have already scored 37 centuries across all formats of the game in the USA. I chose this milestone because I saw Sachin Tendulkar accomplish it in international cricket, and I want to achieve this during my domestic career.

Are you looking forward to playing cricket during 2020, if not what are your thoughts, and should the season be canceled?
Yes, I am looking forward to playing because cricket is my passion and I love playing. I enjoy every moment of it whether winning or losing. The idea is to play as often as possible, because living in New York I only get to play a few months before it gets cold. However, at the same time with the Coronavirus pandemic, I must put cricket on the side, because safety comes first for me, my family, and others.

Who are some of your favorite international players?
Brain Lara because of his records, his mindset, and determination to never give up his wicket. Chris Gayle because of his ability to launch the cricket ball a mile, and his temperament to want to score a triple century. Darren Sammy because of his leadership. He wasn’t the best of cricketers, but his ability to lead was amazing. Also, Steve Smith who started as a bowler and set his mind to becoming a batsman; now he is the world’s #1 ranked Test batsman.

Which is your favorite international cricket team
I will have to say Australia because some of my favorite cricket players are from there. Also the team’s ability and passion for winning at the game.