Western Stars appear to have unearthed a real gem in Indian batsman Arun Kikkeri

The 26-year-old accountant hammered 57 runs in the Central Counties Cup against Police on his official debut with Stars earlier this month, and then followed up the next day with a polished knock of 81 against Warwick to cap his first weekend in domestic cricket and introduction to the 50-overs game.

?To be very frank I never played in a 50-overs match back home in India,? Kikkerri told . ?I used to play for a club over there (India), but I was mostly a tennis ball cricketer. So that was actually the first 50-overs match I have ever played in my life and to add to that the pitch (at St.John?s Field) was awesome.

?I went back to India about three weeks before that match (Central Counties) and when I told my brother I am going to be playing for a club in Bermuda he bought me a new bat.?

Since his debut the diminutive second generation cricketer, born in Bangalore, has had to quickly adapt to local playing conditions.

Kikkeri heralds from the same region as Indian Test cricketers Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble.

?The grounds are pretty hard here and the ball tends to keep very low,? he said. ?They are a lot harder than I initially thought.

?The first couple of matches I played on this pitch (St.John?s) were easy. The pitch was nice and hard and shiny and awesome for batting and the ball was easily coming on to the bat and I scored pretty good runs.

?But it was a different scenario when I played at Somerset Cricket Club (Belco Cup semi-final last Saturday) where the pitch was damp and the ball was skidding about.?

Kikkeri could only manage three runs before he was trapped leg before to an Arthur Pitcher jr delivery that kept low.

Prior to his arrival in Bermuda six months ago, the right handed batsman played in various double wicket competitions and Division Two 25- overs contest back on the sub continent.

?As an accountant I hardly had time to play cricket,? Kikkeri said. ?Most of my life I have played tennis ball cricket and 25-overs matches. I was chosen once to train with the state level Under-16 team, but couldn?t attend because at the time I was preparing for my Board exams.

?But now that I have achieved something on an educational level I can find more time to get into sports.?

Kikkeri is following in the footsteps of South African all-rounder Saleem Mukuddem who first made a name for himself at Stars before going on to rewrite Cup Match history books and help Bermuda qualify for the 2007 World Cup.

In 2003 Mukuddem eclipsed Charlie Marshall?s 23-year-old colt?s record for the highest individual score (104 not out) and then joined the likes of Lloyd James, Rupert Scotland, Arnold Manders, Charlie Marshall and Clay Smith as Cup Match batsmen to have scored two centuries in the annual classic.

Mukuddem was instrumental in discovering and luring Kikkeri to Stars.

?Mukuddem gave me more insight into the club,? Kikkeri added.

But while Mukuddem is renowned for his batting and bowling, Kikkeri is a genuine early order bat who prefers to come to the crease first wicket down. And while he possesses every stroke in the book, it?s his exceptional eye/hand co-ordination and impeccable timing which makes his batting look so easy.

?Obviously I want to help win matches for the club and continue to adapt to Bermuda cricket,? said Kikkeri, whose arrival at St.John?s Road could not have come at a more opportune time as Milford (Ju Ju) Waldron?s squad undergo a rebuilding process.