IN the sporting world, it’s a natural feeling to be elated when a player is summoned to national duty, let alone knowing a debut is imminent.

Every rookie wants to do well in their first outing, so it was not a surprise when the Observer caught up with Nkrumah Bonner, who is set to make his first-class debut in Jamaica’s upcoming game against the Combined Campuses and Colleges in Guyana.

Bonner, 21, and a former West Indies Under-19 player, will likely take one of two vacant spots following the departures for Wavell Hinds and Brendan Nash for the West Indies tour of Australia.

Having been called up as a replacement for Donovan Sinclair during the mid-way stage of the national four-day trials, Bonner hopes to do his country proud.

“The feeling is good,” Bonner told the Observer following the team’s final training session on home soil Sunday at Chedwin Park.

“… I want to use this opportunity to repay my coach and some of my fans. But right now I’m just feeling great to be in the team,” he added.

Hinds and Nash, along with wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh, have proved to be the backbone of Jamaica’s success this season, performing a number of rescue acts, which has placed Jamaica atop the standings.

And with the top order yet to come good this season, there will be plenty of pressure on the middle-order batsmen, including the debutant Bonner.

“There is a bit of pressure knowing that Wavell and Nash are away,” said the former Dinthill Technical standout.

“… I have to go out there and steady the middle order, so I will have to go out there and apply myself and put my best foot forward.”

Bonner has been an excellent talent coming through the youth ranks for Jamaica and the West Indies. Playing under pressure isn’t a novelty for him either, as he has been the talisman for local second division club St Catherine CA.

For the second straight year, he was the top wicket-taker and all-rounder in the division two, scoring 413 runs at an average of 45.89 and bagging 48 wickets at 10 runs apiece.

But the young man, presently studying Physical Education and English at Mico University College, is cognisant of the demands of first-class cricket.

“It’s my first time at the first-class level, so I will have to step up and apply myself by assessing the situation,” he said. “I’m really trying to focus on how I’m going to approach this game. I know that at certain levels there are certain… pressure.”

Added to that is the fact that Bonner was recently called up to the CCC team, but to the surprise of many, he was overlooked despite scoring a century in a trial game.

He was again invited by the college selectors to replace fellow Jamaican Simon Jackson, but his first-class debut was delayed as he was not included in the final 11.

During those stints, the Floyd Reifer-led CCC aggregation would have gotten a good opportunity to analyse Bonner, who could be a potential threat during their historic day/night game.

But Bonner said he has been welcomed with open arms by the seniors, even moreso by skipper Tamar Lambert, who is well aware of the psychological and mental weaknesses that the rookie might be grappling with ahead of this crucial encounter.

Nonetheless, Bonner says he’s living his dream.

He discloses: “One of my goals was to play for Jamaica at the age of 20, 21. This year I didn’t get a call for the trials for the first two games, so I was thinking about next year, really and truly.

“It was a surprise to me… but I think the selectors saw something and they put their faith in me.”

Bonner formed the core of that 2008 West Indies Under-19 World Cup side which included Adrian Barath and Darren Bravo.

Barath and Bravo have both gone on to represent the West Indies senior team and Bonner is hoping to follow suit.

“I want to take this as a launching pad because the ultimate goal for a cricketer is to play for the West Indies team. So I know once I do well at this level the selectors will take a look at me,” he said.