… Needs to see individuals play their role
UNDER the watchful eyes of Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) Territorial Development Officer (TDO), Reon King, coach Rabindranauth Seeram and trainer Kezqweyah Yisrael, Guyana’s 22-man T20 squad commenced their preparation for next month’s Caribbean T20 tournament which will be held in Antigua and Barbados, with a fitness assessment session at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, yesterday. In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, inspirational skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan expressed his delight at the level of fitness within the team but called on the players to take their individual roles more seriously.
“Certainly, the results after the beep test is heartening to look at, as it tells me that the players came into the camp fit and ready, even though some of them are there thereabout, especially at this time of the year, as well as the inclement weather that has been plaguing Guyana recently.
“I am pleased with the level of fitness displayed by the squad, which is a great improvement from previous training camps, where we had to take time to start on the fitness before getting into cricket-related matters and with what has been displayed by the guys today, certainly we can get into cricket-related activities as quickly as possible.”
He was speaking after the beep test where the players, minus West Indies middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (jetlag), had to undergo such on turf for the first time since their 2006 Stanford 20/20 preparations and turned in times that had smiles appearing even on the face of Seeram.
Like Sarwan, the 35-year-old King was pleased with the level displayed by the players, stating that the technical committee will be tasked with working around same, while at the same time ensuring the players maintained such level.
“Certainly, it is a good effort put in by the players, especially on such a surface. I cannot recall conducting such a test on grass and the level achieved by the players shows some work was being done away from the cricket.
It is now up to us to design a programme to fit the needs that we saw, as we not only look to keep them at that level which is not bad, but to maintain same, as maintenance of one’s fitness heading into a tour or series is important.”
But while Sarwan, who has been at the helm of Guyana’s cricket since 2006 expressed his delight at the player’s fitness level, he chided the players for not taking their individual roles seriously when it comes to Regional cricket.
“Most of you guys are no longer junior members of the team, as you have been around four to five years, so you are no longer babies, but tried, tested and proven adults hence you should know what your roles are within the team on a day like today.
Recently, we have been doing badly in both 50-over and four-day cricket, while our performance at T20 has kept us in the reckoning.”
He continued, “I think it is time we step up to the plate and take our performance in the two forms of the game up another level. No more must we have people talking about Guyana depending on the Dowlins, Chanderpauls, Sarwans, Chattergoons and Deonarines, in the batting and the Permauls and Bishoos with the bowling, but their total team effort.
“If the selectors did not believe in you, you would not have been here commencing this camp today and I think it’s time we buckle down and get more serious with our cricket as we all have the capabilities of performing exceedingly well and making our country proud.
“We have an early start to the 2011 Regional season, with our first game in the Caribbean T20 being on the 10th in Antigua and I think it is only fair that we put our heads down as a team and go out there, hit the ground running from day one and retain the T20 title.
“Don’t let us duplicate our performance in 2008 where we lost out to Jamaica in the semifinals of a T20 tournament, but rather go one better and become the first team in the West Indies to retain their T20 title. I know we can and I believe we can do it as a team.”
Meanwhile, Chronicle Sport was reliably informed by an anonymous source from within the GCB about Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) invitation to have Guyana play three practice matches against their national team on December 27, 28, 29 in T&T at a venue to be announced.
While the minor matters towards executing these matches have not been finalised, the source said GCB does not find favour with Guyana visiting Trinidad. He also declared he was not in favour of Guyana going to the Twin Island Republic at a time when they will be venturing out to defend their Caribbean T20 title.
When quizzed on the possible 14-man squad to defend Guyana’s Regional T20 title early next year, the source told this newspaper that the squad, which is yet to be ratified by the GCB boss, reads: Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Royston Crandon, Derwin Christian, Esaun Crandon, Andre Stoll, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Steven Jacobs, Narsingh Deonarine, Richard Ramdeen, Travis Dowlin, Christopher Barnwell and Jonathan Foo.