By Brandon Corlette

Everything in life must have a balance.

National youth cricketer Jonathan Rampersaud has created a good balance, as he is equipped with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.7 in his final year as a Business Management student.

The 2024 Regional Four-Day season will commence next month, and Rampersaud aims to play First-Class cricket: for the Guyana Harpy Eagles or Combined Campuses and Colleges.

Rampersaud finished his final year playing for Guyana Under-19 with the most wickets for Guyana, and third overall. He claimed 20 wickets with his right-arm off-spin including 5-18 against Windward Islands, and 5-16 against Trinidad and Tobago.

The talented youngster who hails from the ancient county of Berbice, is no slouch with the bat. In that said Regional tournament, he scored an unbeaten 58 against Windward Islands.

According to Rampersaud, balancing his education at the University of Guyana, and playing cricket is not challenging as it sounds.

“Well, to balance University and cricket, it’s not as challenging as it would sound. Classes are online and you would usually have the whole day at hand. I would train during the day with the Guyana Harpy Eagles set up and attend classes in the evening,” Rampersaud said.

“The year 2023 was a break-through year for me, following up a good year in Regional U-19 in 2022. Having another opportunity at Regional youth cricket, I put every effort to make sure I was fit mentally and physically to perform well,” he added.

Rampersaud also had a smooth transition into senior cricket in Guyana. He played at the senior inter-county level for the Guyana Cricket Board Select XI, and he scored 126 runs in two matches, including a half-century against a strong Demerara team.

With ball, Rampersaud claimed 11 wickets in the senior inter-county tournament.

“I am very eager to play First-class cricket, it will be a dream come through to play first class cricket knowing it is a steppingstone to play for West Indies.”

“After finishing Under-19, the transition wasn’t challenging, I have played senior cricket since the age 14. So, I have been around senior guys from that age, and I tried to learn as much as possible from them. The way they go about training,” Rampersaud explained.

“Reflecting on 2023, my Under-19 season was one that I will remember in my career. I think I was ready going into the tournament, the team wasn’t doing well but I kept putting my hands up with performances and get the team over the line. Bowling in St Vincent, I tried to stay consistent as possible, whether bowling or batting,” Rampersaud disclosed.

Rampersaud is aiming to improve his fitness and consistency as a cricketer.