A work in progress.
That's how opening batsman Adrian Barath has described the comeback trail, as he tries to put himself back in contention for a spot in the West Indies team.
Barath was dropped last year after a string of poor scores for the regional side, and since then has been working hard on his game to return to the team.
The right-handed batsman has been working with former star West Indies opener Gordon Greenidge, T&T coach and ex-West Indies wicketkeeper David Williams, and also getting advice from his father Ralph Barath and "friends who have really taken interest in my cricket".
After scoring four half centuries so far this season, Barath is pleased with the way his batting has progressed.
"I think it's a good feeling so far," Barath said during a recent training session. "I've been putting in a lot of hard work batting in the nets and doing a lot of work on my concentration. So I've been really enjoying this moment right now. Obviously I'm looking to get to three figures (for Trinidad and Tobago), but that's a work in progress."
Barath, who scored a century on Test debut against Australia in 2009, is not satisfied with getting fifties. For him, it's all about concentration, and re-focusing once he passes that landmark.
"I'm obviously looking to get some centuries. I'll take these 50s as a platform to keep my form and consistency and my average up," the 22-year-old batsman said. "I think I've been doing a decent job for my team. At the end of the day I can't forget getting the team off to a good start on most occasions and laying the foundation. So I'm going to have to take it in stride, everything is a work in progress, I always have work to do on my game, but I'm working on concentrating, on working hard and digging deep."
Asked about his intentions to return to the frame for a West Indies pick, Barath said he is content to work on improving his game rather than putting pressure on himself to return to international cricket.
"Obviously it's always unfortunate being out of the side, but these things happen, and it's how hard you work and how hard you come back," he reasoned.
"You have to take this time to develop…the more first class games I have under my belt the better for me as you can see with the better players around the world, who have more first class games, they give themselves a better chance to perform at the highest level.
"I know I have centuries at the international level, but at the end of the day, it's always a work in progress."
