Birmingham, England – West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin said his emotions had boiled over, leading to the way he celebrated his second Test hundred in the third and final Test against England on Sunday.
Ramdin celebrated his landmark by waving a piece of paper in the direction of the media centre that bore a message, chiding West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards.
The action was in response to earlier criticism levelled at Ramdin by Sir Vivian, now an expert analyst for BBC Radio’s Test Match Special, following West Indies’ defeat in the second Test at Trent Bridge.
Ramdin said he and all the current West Indies players have a tremendous respect for Sir Viv and other West Indies legends, and no disrespect was meant.
"Sir Viv had said something [about me] in the press and I think I got a bit emotional and it came out in the way it did," said Ramdin.
"Having said that, he’s a legend of the Caribbean and I still look up to him."
Ramdin said he had been under pressure, particularly to score runs, and the comments by Sir Viv both hurt and motivated him.
"His statement was a bit hurtful to me, but I worked hard and I proved the critics (wrong)," he said.
"When I was not getting runs, I kept reminding myself that I needed to score runs and do well for myself and my teammates."
Ramdin said: "Being out of international cricket for a long time and knowing there are players coming through all the time, I felt pressured. . .this is something that I love and I want to perform.
"I have not been getting runs since my return and we are playing against the No.1 Test side in the World and I wanted to do well."
Ramdin said however, his point had been made with the bat and there was no need for the paper, and he was willing to meet Sir Viv to further defuse the situation.
Ramdin also hailed the batting of West Indies fast bowler Tino Best. He made 95 to collect the highest score by a No.11 batsman in the history of Tests.
"It was amazing, Tino went out there and played some unbelievable shots," he said.
"I didn’t think he had all those shots in his armoury, but he went out there and expressed himself; that’s the way Tino plays."
Ramdin continued: "It was funny. He kept saying ‘keep going big dog, you go out there, you get the hundred and then you bat with me to get my 50’.
"I told him I would be there when he got his hundred, but unfortunately he got carried away."