Daren Ganga's 2000-01 tour of Australia was rather like Mark Ramprakash's debut series: there were several characterful twenties and thirties but, as a studious opener whose limited supply of runs came mostly in the V, he could be becalmed all too easily. It wasn't until his fourth coming as an international cricketer that he really made his mark, with back-to-back centuries against the mighty Australians. All of a sudden, his phlegmatic approach became a vital counterpoint to a rejunevated Brian Lara at the other end. But his form fell away and he was dropped after the first Test against South Africa in April 2004-05. Recalled for the 2005-06 tour to New Zealand, he was the second highest run scorer in the three-Test fixture. He looked good for a third hundred - and West Indies for a rare victory - in the first Test at Auckland, but a rash stroke on 95 ruined all that and Ganga was in for flack from his critics. Indifferent innings at Wellington and Napier notwithstanding, he was retained for the series against India later that season. It proved to be a benchmark of sorts, and Ganga clearly had taken a mature step forward. His total of 344 runs in four Tests was a team high by some margin, and his 135 and unbeaten 66 in the drawn third Test in St Kitts were innings of confidence and composure. He cemented his place with back-to-back 80s in Pakistan. Touring England as the vice-captain, Ganga's position was soon elevated following Ramnaresh Sarwan's injury. Ganga, however, failed to shine with the bat and was dropped for the Natwest Series that followed. Even after being named as Trinidad & Tobago's cricketer of the year, Ganga failed to find a place in the squad for the ICC World Twenty20 and the tour of Zimbabwe before making a return to the squad for the the tour of South Africa that followed.
Jamie Alter November 2007

• Stanford Superstars Twenty20 squad announced (Jul 22, 2008)
  
• 'We failed to transition from Twenty20' - Ganga (Apr 28, 2008)
  
• T&T drubbed by Jamaica in final (Apr 27, 2008)
  
• Chanderpaul sweeps major WIPA awards (Mar 31, 2008)
  
• Sarwan returns for Sri Lanka Tests (Mar 11, 2008)
  

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Feb 14, 2008 Portrait of Daren Ganga © Stanford 20/20

Jan 25, 2008 Trinidad's Daren Ganga hoists his country's flag © Stanford 20/20

Jun 16, 2007 Daren Ganga is caught by Alastair Cook at short-leg off Ryan Sidebottom © Getty Images

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