Denesh Ramdin is a wicketkeeper/batsman possessing enormous potential ? perhaps the likes of which have not been seen since the days Jeffrey Dujon kept behind the stumps for the West Indies.

The 21-year-old Trinidadian virtually rose to the forefront of world cricket overnight shortly after debuting for his native country at the senior level in 2005.

Ramdin is currently on Island touring with Trinidad and Tobago Division One side Clico Preysal.

And although he has yet to post a big score, the well-trimmed cricketer has already demonstrated why he is widely considered as the Windies? long -term solution to the void left by Dujon ? and arguably the best wicketkeeper to come out of Trinidad since Derryck Murray.

Surprisingly, though, Ramdin?s rise to fame started somewhat unconventionally as a fast bowler, and not as a wicketkeeper.

?When I was in Primary School I would bowl fast and then go and keep behind the stumps after. I would bowl like five overs and then go and keep. But after a while I began to enjoy wicketkeeping, and so I just kept doing it,? he recalled.

Born and raised in Couva, Trinidad, Shotter, as he was later nicknamed, attended Preysal Government School.

?While I was growing up I didn?t get much batting practice or anything like that because I was young. Only once in a while they would give me a turn to bat, but I never lasted very long because the kids were a lot older and more experienced than I was,? Ramdin continued.

?They were pretty big and fast and used to take advantage of me. There was a lot of talent there, but these guys were just like village cricketers. . . they didn?t really push on to the senior level or anything like that.?

It was also during this period Ramdin became hooked on international cricket, often times waking up early dawn to watch his favourite stars in action on the TV.

?I used to watch cricket around 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. in the morning with my dad,? he added. ?I used to look at players such as Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy who all inspired me a lot. Seeing them dominate world cricket I used to tell myself ?I could also do that one day?.

?I just loved the sport and continued to play thinking that once I reached a certain age I would go on and play for the West Indies, and that?s exactly what happened.?

Ramdin debuted for the West Indies against Sri Lanka in Colombo in July 2005, scoring 56 runs off 73 balls on his very first visit to the crease.

?I was definitely a bit surprised playing a couple of first class games and then going into the West Indies team,? he admitted.

?It?s always an honour to put on West Indies? clothing and follow in the footsteps of Jeffrey DuJon and Derryck Murray. It?s also an honour to represent a couple of million people who always look forward to seeing you do well.?

Ramdin also enjoys playing under West Indies skipper and compatriot Brian Lara.

?It?s an amazing feeling knowing that at a young age I was looking at him (Lara) on television and hoping one day I can play with him,? the Windies ?keeper said.

?And now that wish has come true playing under Brian is very good given the amount of experience he has.

?He is a player you can go to and ask for advice and stuff like that, things like how to bat certain bowlers, take control of situations and bat under pressure as well.?

Playing for Trinidad, Ramdin stressed, is no less of a privilege.

?It was a good feeling starting off playing for my country, the entire country was behind me knowing that I had everything it takes to be a Test player,? he recalled.

?I went out there and basically did what I had to do. . . . nothing out of the ordinary. And I was well supported by my team-mates.?

Ramdin, however, was overlooked for the West Indies? current tour of Malaysia, a disappointment he takes full responsibility for.

?At the end of the day there?s nobody else to blame but myself,? he said. ?I just have to go out there and perform at a high level and keep my spot.?

He is, though, determined to regain his spot in the Windies team ahead of next month?s Test series against Pakistan on the Asian continent.

?I?m just working on fitness and the technical aspect of my game for the series in Pakistan,? said Ramdin, obviously delighted over the Windies three-wicket defeat of world champions Australia earlier this week.

?That was good psychologically playing against the Australians, no matter which team they put out there,? he added. ?Australia is Australia and once you beat them they are always looking to come back.

?But this is great for West Indies cricket, and it would be good for us to go all the way and win it (triangular series currently underway in Malaysia) and then go on with some confidence to the ICC Champions Trophy in which we are the defending champions.?

The Windies are set to defend their ICC Champions Trophy next month in India.

?Hopefully we can go out there and put on a good show as well,? Ramdin said.

As for Bermuda?s qualification to next year?s World Cup cricket spectacle in the Caribbean, the Trinidadian said: ?I was a bit surprised. But when you have good players who understand the game and can go out there and perform, there?s no reason why you shouldn?t be playing in the World Cup.

?This is a small Island, and a very lovely place.?