-says former Windies all rounder
FORMER Guyana and West Indies all-rounder and coach Roger Harper yesterday told Chronicle Sport based on their combined experience, he would give the advantage in the two Twenty20 President Premier League (PPL) matches between the President’s XI and CARICOM Superstars to the latter.

“Let me first of all say, that I am looking forward to the games and I hope we can see some good and exciting cricket between the teams.

Having said that, you will have to say that the CARICOM Superstars are the favourites as they have a lot more experience, along with the fact that they have played this type of cricket all over the world.”

The 46 year- old Harper who took 46 Test wickets from 25 matches at an average of 28.06 with one five wicket haul, was a spectator in the pavilion admiring the coaching tactics of his older brother Mark, the man in charge of the President’s XI team at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

“It’s not to say that the President’s XI cannot get past their opponents in the two matches because they can do so once they play to their full potential. People tend to think that because it is T20 cricket, everything has to be done in a hurry, but there are 120 balls you have to play and each ball is a different event” said Harper.

“It is what you do also with those deliveries that speak volumes for you at the end of the day. The President’s XI is a good combination, but they are playing against a team which have more experience and they are higher skilled than our guys, but it is a tremendous opportunity for our local guys to make a name for themselves.”

Like his elder brother Mark, Harper believes that the batting lineup of the President’s XI which includes skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Narsingh Deonarine, Christopher Barnwell and Lennox Cush, is capable of getting any total that is thrown at them, from their bowlers’ performance.

“They are capable and with the potential in their batting line-up, I would back Mark in saying yes they can get their total set by the opposition, once they play to the potential they possess. Such a batting line-up is as good as any.”

In closing, Harper said, “In cricket, it is all about who plays well on the day as well as who plays smarter cricket for as we all know, the game is played in the middle. Not because I said I favoured the CARICOM Superstars means they would automatically win, as it is how they play on the day, who plays the better cricket as well as who displays the hunger for success will be victorious.”