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I feel ready. It's all new to me but I feel I can do the job.

Those were the words of Trinidad and Tobago allrounder Dave Mohammed yesterday, when he was first informed he was selected in the West Indies 13-man squad for the third Test against South Africa at Kensington Oval, starting Thursday.

I feel more confident. This is what I wanted to play at the highest level. Since I came in to the Trinidad (and Tobago) side I have been playing tough.

I always had the ambition of playing for the West Indies and I'm very happy, the 21-year-old told NATIONSPORT from the dressing room at Kensington Oval yesterday evening, at the end of the three-day match between South Africa and the West Indies Board XI.

Mohammed made his first-class debut in this year's Busta Cup and impressed with his left-arm chinaman bowling, his positive batting and aggressive attitude. He possesses the uncanny ability to get the ball in the same spot more often than most slow bowlers with such limited experience.

Mohammed has been selected after a mere three first-class matches. He took 13 wickets in two matches against the West Indies B Development team and Barbados. He took two for 35 in the second innings yesterday and one for 57 in the first innings.

I just take it on myself to play normal and be confident all the time, he said. I changed around a lot of things this year, making my cricket more complete, and I feel confident and ready.

He said he adjusted his bowling run-up, cutting it down, and tried to concentrate more on his batting before he made it into the Trinidad and Tobago side.

The run-up was long and I knew I had to change a few things to make it to a higher grade. I was focussed on making the West Indies team. It came quicker than I expected, but I'm happy I could make it.

Mohammed was in the Trinidad and Tobago Under-19 team during the West Indies tournament in Barbados in 1999, but did not play a match. He has also played in Barbados with Tranquility Government School in the Sir Garfield Sobers International School tournament.

He is the first player from Princess Town, south Trinidad, to make the West Indies team and is the last of ten children six boys and four girls.

He said his mother Saferan had been a tremendous guide.

He admitted being surprised at his selection and thanked former Trinidad national Under-19 coach Harry Lala, other coaches Mervin Richardson and Zide Ali, along with Alston Daniel, who helped with bowling adjustments and using the crease.

© The Barbados Nation