… We are prepared for the challenge, says Pride head coach

THE familiar surroundings of the Guyana National Stadium at Providence will provide the backdrop for what is anticipated to be four days of tough cricket when front-runners and defending champions Guyana Jaguars face off with third-place leaders, Barbados Pride, in round five in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Professional Cricket League Regional 4-Day Tournament.

Matches between the two sides date back to 1865 and have produced some of the most intriguing battles in the regional first-class game – and the same can be expected from this contest, since the outcome could have a heavy bearing on the recipients of the Headley/Weekes Trophy of supremacy.

Currently, the Jaguars sit on 64.8 points, 20.2 points ahead of second-placed Leeward Island Hurricanes (44.6), Barbados Pride (42.4), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (41.8). Jamaica Scorpions (36.6) and Windward Islands Volcanoes (18.4) complete the points table after four rounds.

Both teams enter the contest with much confidence, following solid victories in the previous round, when the Pride iced the Volcanoes, and the Jaguars stopped the Red Force.
This should be enough motivation for both teams, but the visiting side’s head coach Emerson Trotman said the Pride, however, can’t be too self-assured since the home team have enough proven match-winners to make things difficult for the Pride.

“We are up for the challenge … we are prepared for it, and if I can remember the last time we were here, unfortunately, the rains came and I thought we were on top of the game; so this time around we are just looking to execute our skills and carry out the game plans,” Trotman reckoned.

On the other hand, the National stadium has always been a happy hunting ground for the home team. In a recent interview, manager/assistant coach of the Jaguars unit urged his charges to utilise the home conditions to the fullest.

Meanwhile, both teams made one change from their fourth round encounter. For the home team Test opener Rajendra Chandrika is making way for 20-year-old West Demerara left-hander Akshaya Persaud, who was the leading run-scorer in the Jaguars Franchise League Three-day competition this year.

Chandrika, who played five Test matches in 2015-2016, could manage only 176 runs at average of 22 from his last five first-class matches. His highest score during the period has been 35.
Further, all-rounder Shamar Springer has replaced leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr in the Barbados Pride 13-man squad.

Guyana Jaguars squad reads: Leon Johnson (captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Keemo Paul, Akshaya Persaud, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie and Keon Joseph.

Barbados Pride squad reads: Shamarh Brooks (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Jonathan Carter. Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Aaron Jones, Shayne Moseley, Ashley Nurse, Mario Rampersaud, Shamar Springer, Kevin Stoute, Jomel Warrican, Kenroy Williams.