In 1989, at the age of 15 when most youngsters have fun playing on the school playground, Colin was representing his country (St Kitts) at all levels of cricket, and yes, soccer too. He had most going for him. Although he appeared as a player who used the most of his abilities, there is a view, partly supported by his paltry first-class record that he grossly underachieved. It is unclear what effect did his decision to pursue academic studies had on the realization of his full potential. He is a bit apprehensive of suggestions that his breakout year may have come at a time when he decided to take up working commitments while on tour. The year was 2000 which may have been his most successful year - he was opening the innings and establishing solid partnerships with then West Indies opener Stuart Williams.
Unassuming and enigmatic, his rather introverted and seemingly shy nature has invited criticism suggesting he is selfish - an accusation which he believes is an affront to his natural expression of spirit. If anything, caution tempers so much of what he says - that same caution that has counselled him to keep a safe distance between himself and the world. He is believed to be a warmer person off the field. Those close to him remark that, in private, he is an excellent person.
Nonetheless, he appears to be an unconventional cricketer. Unmarried with no children, he is single-minded, uncomplicated and prefers a private life. He preferred filling his diary to `liming' in the hotel lobby at evenings and watching TV to going to the clubs. Colin, who loves reading books, when not engrossed in academia, is a man apart, self-involved, and seemingly absorbed in contemplation. But, he has had his share of controversy - in 1997, during an inter-island tournament; he was captain of a St. Kitts team whose players failed to turn out for a match against the sister island, Nevis. It earned him a two-year ban from the national setup. By then he was already pursuing a bachelor's degree at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica - a country whose main academic institution has been known for a its share of radicals.
He often patrols the covers and his gazelle-like speed has made him one of the most respected infielders. Due to the illness of Stuart Williams, he led the Leeward Islands in a regional match in his home country. For all that, this turned out to be his last match. Such condescending discard of players is not uncommon and it smacks of the perennial insularity that pervades cricket in the cluster of small islands.
He hopes to obtain a PhD degree in the future.
It is unclear that his playing days are over, his skills show no signs of diminishing, his once innocuous off-spin bowling is improving and his most recent performances suggest that the man who has spent half his lifetime representing his country might be around some more yet. But he wants to leave the game without a fuss, in the way he entered. That he has played over three decades, at this point in his life he will be the first to acknowledge that there is an increasing opportunity cost to playing these days. Whether he would have made it to the test level remains anyone's guess. His country still remains one of the few territories that has never produced a West Indies player.
