WICB regional four-day competition …
Asks Calvin Roberts
IT was just around this time one year ago, when a Travis Dowlin-led senior Guyana cricket team left these shores to contest their first four matches in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)-sponsored President’s Cup double-rounded four- day competition.

This reporter, who was attached to another news agency, asked the question, ‘How will they fare?’ The end result: four defeats in their first four matches while overall Guyana ended in the cellar position on 32 points, with the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) who had defeated them in their second match at the Three W’s Oval in Barbados, above them on 60 points.

There was, however, something to smile about as recalled West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine, who knew he had to shoulder the batting in the middle-order, set himself a target of 600 runs, passed same and reset it to 800, before he ended with 1 068, becoming the first man to score over 1 000 in a WICB first class season.

Dowlin was also among the runs, finishing second to Deonarine with 580, which was enough to earn him a place on the West Indies team for their two Test matches against Bangladesh, following a strike by the top players (Deonarine included), even though he was dropped for the final round match against Jamaica.

There was no Ramnaresh Sarwan or Shivnarine Chanderpaul last year and there is no difference this time around, as the country’s leading Test cricketers are out through injuries – Sarwan, a niggling back that will keep him out of action for four to six weeks, and Chanderpaul a torn ligament in his finger.

The duo are Guyana’s most experienced batsmen with 206 Tests and nearly 15 000 Test runs between them and certainly their absence and experience in the middle would leave a hole in the batting lineup.

There are, however, Deonarine and vice- captain Assad Fudadin, two batsmen who have been in fine form recently, along with skipper Sewnarine Chattergoon, Dowlin, Royston Crandon and Derwin Christian, the temperamental wicketkeeper/batsman, all with regional experience.

When one adds rookies Vishal Singh (who played one match last year) and Rajendra Chandrika, along with Esaun Crandon, the talented all-rounder, certainly our team looks strong on paper and good enough to give our opponents a fight.

Chandrika’s aggressive attitude at the top of the order will certainly contrast the style of Chattergoon, whose 95 against the Invitational XI in the last practice match signalled a return to form for the little left-hander.

The present form of Fudadin, Deonarine and Dowlin should not be questioned, but certainly one can ask if Christian’s robust 60-ball 86 was a one-time something compared to a Haley Comet, as this batsman who displays a temperament to bat long, throws away his wicket.

He should be looking to set the record straight, as his record seven ducks last season would not have done him any good, but what must be taken into consideration is that, apart from former Guyana/Stanford 20/20 wicketkeeper Tyrell Tull, he is the best glove man available at the moment.

The always smiling 26-year-old Royston Crandon burst onto the scene with a ton against the Windward Islands in 2007, but after that made no worthy contribution with the bat, until his unbeaten 136 against Barbados at the Guyana National Stadium in a drawn encounter.

It is not bad to hone young talent in any sport, but such an individual should be 100% fit to play and in the case of young Vishal Singh, a question mark lingers over his fitness and what would be a slap in the face of the selectors is if he has to return home and be replaced before the team goes to Barbados (for treatment on his lower back that is not 100% at the moment).

What must be of concern, however, is the bowling department which, apart from the efforts of spin twins Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo, lacked penetration last year, with West Indies ‘A’ team fast bowler Brandon Bess finding it difficult to get a breakthrough with the new ball.

In fact, Dowlin had to turn to his Demerara Cricket Club team mate, the talented but temperamental all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, who is not in the fray for the first match, to offer support to Esaun Crandon with the new ball, before the spin twins took over.

Bess is being seen as the fastest senior bowler on the local scene, but his inability to pick up early wickets of late leaves much to be desired, while he is still being plagued by the no-ball problem and with there being no Barnwell around, one wonders if Guyana Police Force’s Trevor Benn would get a chance with the new cherry in one of the three away matches.

In the last practice match which was played at the famous Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Benn, who is always an energetic figure on the field, was under-bowled, where he sent down nine overs for 16 runs. His fielding was up to standard, as he chased deliveries from mid-off to long-on, even restricting the batsmen to two when they should have had three.

Certainly he has earned his place in the team, but how and if he will be utilised as the third seamer to Esaun Crandon and Bess is left to be seen, as there is no Barnwell or even Trevon Garraway, two bowlers who have been far more productive than Bess at this level for Guyana.

Another plus the squad have on their side is adequate preparation and while some may argue that they have not had any practice under the lights with the pink ball, (and it’s a valuable point,) what needs to be taken into consideration is the fact that with the exception of Benn, all the other guys ply their trade either in the Caribbean or further a-field, whether or not cricket is being played in Guyana.

It’s all about adapting to conditions and situations and a
ccording to the president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), of which he is a director, has promised to have both Guyana and their opponents T&T practise under the lights with the pink balls.

How much practice they will be given is unknown at this time, but what is certain is that the preparations they were placed under by the GCB’s Cricket Development Officer Reon King and his team which included athletics coach Linden Wilson were the best any local team could have asked for.

Therefore, lack of preparation cannot be used as an excuse for mediocre performance and already, Fudadin has told this reporter that he has his eyes set on scoring over five hundred runs this season and with his present form, he can certainly achieve that and more.

But what else can we expect from the team this time around? The answer will be in the air over the next three weeks.