Five Firsts

Batting with Brian

Also, getting an autograph from the great man, and more

12-Oct-2009
Trinidad's Daren Ganga hoists his country's flag, Antigua, January 25, 2008

Ganga: Trinidad forever  •  Stanford 20/20

First proper game I played
That match is very, very clear in my mind. It was a school game in South Trinidad against a Rest of England team. I was 14. We needed one run off one ball and I hit that last ball for four.
First time I watched West Indies live
It was West Indies versus Pakistan at the Queens Park Oval in 1993. Seeing Waqar Younis running from his long mark, and Wasim Akram and Basit Ali, really stand out for me. I was in the bleachers with my uncles. I can never forget that game.
First autograph I took
Brian Lara in 1994. He had just broken the record for the highest individual score in a Test. I was never one to seek autographs, but because I was a player and because of what he had achieved, I went up and requested him for one.
First international century
It was against Australia in Georgetown in 2003. I batted a long time with Brian and it was almost like Trinidad versus Australia. I'd underachieved in 17 previous Tests and that was a special moment. Unfortunately we lost the match.
First expensive dropped catch
In 2007, against England at Lord's. It was a sitter off Paul Collingwood at gully [Collingwood was on 27 at the time]. He went on to make a century. We ended up drawing the Test, but I should have taken that chance.

As told to Jamie Alter