Bottom-of-the-table Guyana take on Barbados at Albion 
… Fudadin out
BOTTOM-of-the-table and hosts Guyana oppose one of their nemeses and second place Barbados in their fifth round clash of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) 2010 President’s Cup match at the Albion Community Centre ground commencing today and continuing over the next four days.
Vice-captain Assad Fudadin, who picked up a hairline fracture on his right index finger, has been replaced by dependable middle- order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who coach Ravindranauth Seeram said can be a motivator to the rest of the team.
Speaking with Chronicle Sport after the team had a light practice session at the venue yesterday afternoon, Seeram said the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has done what they could for the team, and it is up to the guys to go out there and make it happen.
“Coming off a one-week rest, we commenced training on Tuesday and had two full days of training at the Edinburgh ground, where bowlers were asked to be patient and put the ball in the right areas consistently, while the batsmen worked on their weaknesses.
Hopefully, the guys can get a momentum following the back-to-back defeat against Jamaica and the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) and with the inclusion of Chanderpaul, the senior players should rally around him and we can get a creditable performance against Barbados.”
The last time Guyana recorded a victory over their opponents, would have been in 2005 at the Kensington Oval, where a Damodar Dasrath-led team carted off an outright victory, thanks to back-to-back centuries from former West Indies opener Ryan Ramdass.
It was at the Albion Community Centre ground, where Guyana also defeated Barbados in the 2009 WICB Regional limited overs competition, thanks to Narsingh Deonarine’s whirlwind ton.
But today’s game would definitely be a different kettle of fish for the home team whose seven points came from a drawn first round encounter with Trinidad and Tobago and first innings won despite the defeat to CCC, which unfortunately occurred inside three days.
Skipper Sewnarine Chattergoon, who was being affected by a troublesome back, will once again start the innings with the temperamental Rajendra Chandrika who needs to buckle down and build on the starts he has been getting in the previous matches.
With Chanderpaul in the fray, the number three position which former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd stated was one that should be occupied by your best batsman or one of your best batsmen, is in good hands, which means rising all-rounder Christopher Barnwell will bat at number four with either Gajanand Singh or Vishal Singh at number five, followed by Royston Crandon.
Contrary to reports in another section of the media, Derwin Christian has retained his place in the now announced 14-man squad and will be performing duties behind the stumps while batting at number seven, to be followed by all-rounder Esaun Crandon whose batting has come on leaps and bounds in this tournament.
Zaheer Mohammed has been in ripping form with the bat, but what is left to be seen is if he will be able to force his way into the starting eleven and if so, can be batting above Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo in that order, with either Brandon Bess or Trevor Benn completing the team.
While nothing much can be said of the opposition, what is certain is that they like CCC, recorded a come-from-behind victory over the Windward Islands in their fourth round clash under the lights at the Kensington Oval, hence they will be brimming with confidence.
Coach Emerson Trotman did state that his team will be coming hard at Guyana and why they shouldn’t would be anybody’s guess, taking into consideration the inclusion of their three young West Indies representatives in the talented Kraigg Brathwaite, wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and fast bowler Jason Holder.
Brathwaite bats in the same mould and temperament of his idol Chanderpaul and with skipper Ryan Hinds, Dale Richards, Kirk Edwards, Jason Haynes and former West Indies youth skipper Shamarh Brooks in the lineup, Guyana can expect the team from the Land of the Flying Fish to come hard at them.
Their bowling will be led by former  West Indies pacer Tino Best who, along with Pedro Collins, has been in terrific form with the ball this year, with amicable support from left-arm orthodox spinner Sulieman Benn and all-rounder Kevin Stoute, both of whom are no rabbits with the bat. The latter hit a big ton against Guyana at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence last year.
Teams for today’s encounter which bowls off at 10:00 h will be chosen from:
Guyana: Sewnarine Chattergoon, Rajendra Chandrika, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Vishal Singh, Gajanand Singh, Royston Crandon, Derwin Christian, Esaun Crandon, Zaheer Mohammed, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Trevor Benn and Brandon Bess.
Barbados: Ryan Hinds (captain), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, Pedro Collins, Shane Dowrich, Corey Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Jason Haynes, Jason Holder, Dale Richards and Kevin Stoute.
Standings (with matches in brackets):
Jamaica 36 (3), Barbados 33 (4), Combined Campuses & Colleges 24 (4), Trinidad & Tobago 21 (4), Windward Islands 16 (3), Leeward Islands 10 (3), Guyana 7 (3)
In two other fixtures today, Jamaica take on CCC at the Providence stadium and Windwards and Leewards clash at Bourda.