NATIONAL and Demerara Cricket Club’s (DCC) all-rounder Christopher Barnwell has returned from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), following a successful stint with W Connection Wanderers, whom he helped to avoid relegation from the Trinidad and Tobago Premiership League (TTPL). In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, Barnwell, who played alongside fellow national all-rounder Esaun Crandon, said the competition in the Twin Island Republic was very high, taking into consideration the quality of the opposing team players.
“When you are facing seasoned and experienced players who have been playing lots of cricket, there is no room for complacency. Loose deliveries are a rarity and you are required to play hard cricket at all times, as teams are looking to avoid relegation to the lower division.”
The 23-year-old Barnwell who averages 22.30 from 11 first class matches for Guyana, accumulated 517 runs from eight innings at an average of 64 for Wanderers, including a top score of 118 made against Evergreen Cricket Club, of whom Steven Jacobs and Shemroy Barrington are a part  and to whom his team lost first innings points.
Other scores of 94 and 76 were recorded against the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and Comets Cricket Club (CCC) respectively, as he chalked up one ton and four half-centuries for his adopted club, while taking five wickets with the ball.
Added to that, he played five limited overs matches where he scored 192 runs with two half-centuries with a highest score of 64 against CCC, followed by his 61 against UTT, while he took 10 wickets including a best of 4-40 against Evergreen, where he scalped both Jacobs and Barrington.
“I was not asked to do much bowling for the club in the longer version of the game, as their spinners took care of that department well. My batting was of importance to them and being asked to bat for the team and not bowl played a major role in the further development of my game, especially in the longer version,” said Barnwell.
He continued, “When I got word of the contract, my aim was to regain my confidence playing as a professional with the team, which at first was a challenge for me. I felt pleased with my first stint with the club, but at the same time disappointed that I did not carry on after getting starts, but I will be working on eradicating that problem as quickly as possible.
“Added to that, my aim is to continue in the same vein for DCC, with the aim of making the Demerara Inter-county team for the limited overs competition, after which the national team, followed by a West Indies ‘A’ or even senior team call-up, but definitely I am looking to take my cricket to another level.”
He is the lone batsman to record a century in the privately organised DJ Stress Twenty20 Festival and already has his sights set on this year’s tournament which is set to bowl off at the Guyana National Stadium on July 4.
“Once I am selected, I will definitely be looking to help my team win the tournament. Even though I scored a ton in the first tournament, it was not enough as we lost to New Line Cavaliers (NLC) in the final.
“But with the rivalry created by any team that goes up against NLC who are the defending champions, I am eagerly looking forward to facing them in the final once again, once both teams make it to that phase of the competition.”
Certainly, if the young all-rounder, whose surname can be attributed more to football on the local scene, continues in such a vein, then the game of cricket not only at the DCC, but Georgetown and more so Guyana can improve in some form or the other.