Allert picked to represent T&T vs Windwards
January 24th 2009

Atiba Kerry Allert achieved a cricketing dream yesterday when, after 4 years of knocking on the door with good performances at National trials, he was selected to represent his country against the Windward islands.

Allert (he insisted that the extra “l” be included) was born in McBean village Couva in Central Trinidad on 27th June 1981. He is a right hand batsman and a right hand fast bowler. He attended the Couva South Government Primary School and the Marabella Junior Secondary School where his first love was football – a sport which he still enjoys. As a matter of fact, he moved across to Princes Town Senior Comprehensive with the primary intent of playing football there. In the meantime though, he had taken up cricket with a small club called Calcutta sports and that experience gave him the confidence to go to cricket tryouts at “PTown.” A quiet person, he somewhat audaciously picked up the ball and began to bowl in the nets without being explicitly invited to do so but he quickly impressed with his pace and accuracy and soon became an integral part of that championship winning team. At the club level, he graduated from Calcutta Sports to PowerGen in Penal and now campaigns with W Connection Wanderers.

As he took to the field today, he admits to being a little nervous – and who would not be. His guiding principle on the cricket field is to play within himself. Too often he has seen other players try too hard with less than desired results. He also makes a point of encouraging his teammates and keeping involved in the game since in his words “it won’t be a good thing for a guy named ‘Allert’ to be sleeping on the field.” Fielding is also very important to him and he stresses that its importance cannot be overemphasized since good fielding can lift a team’s game.

It’s little wonder then that the catch that he took seems to have given him as much pleasure as the 4 wickets for 44 runs that he took today. Included in that 4 wicket haul were two consecutive wickets and for a moment the possibility of a hat-trick on debut existed. Sadly, it all turned out to be a bit of an anti- climax as he bowled a no-ball on that crucial third ball. He says that he was not nervous as he ran up to bowl and instead was concentrating on trying to get the ball in the right spot as had been discussed in the team meetings. He also made a point of emphasizing that cricket is a team sport and credits his teammates with assisting him in claiming the 4 wicket haul. 2 not out with the bat, 4 wickets including a near hat-trick and a catch, from any perspective that’s a dream start to a promising career.

Allert names Curtly Ambrose as his favourite cricketer and also admits to having never met his hero having only seen him from a distance. His cricket aspirations show a refreshing maturity and modesty. His first goal is to cement his place on the Trinidad & Tobago team and only when he’s secure in that niche will he allow himself to contemplate a place on the West Indies team.

©Dayanand Birju 24th January 2009