… hope new GCB president practises what he preaches
GUYANA Defence Force’s (GDF) Travis Blyden and Guyana National Industrial Corporation’s (GNIC) Elton Baker left these shores this morning for Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), where they will be embarking on their third season for Rousillac United Sports Club in the T&T league. However, while stopping short on identifying a winner, they both are concerned with the present state of Guyana’s cricket and called on whoever is elected president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to practise what he preaches during his pre-election campaign.
Both Blyden and Baker lost out on their adopted club’s 2010 Cricketer-of-the-Year award, which was won by 53-year-old Saisnarine Singh, despite Blyden having an aggregate of 542 runs from 10 matches with a highest score of 110, scored at an average of 32.00, while he also took over 30 wickets with his right-arm leg-spin.
Baker also had a productive year, even though he was plagued by a back injury after the first four matches which saw him pick up 24 wickets inclusive of three five-wicket hauls.
Making a return after a five-match sabbatical due to the injury, Baker only picked up two more wickets in his final match to end the season with 26 wickets, while he scored 426 runs.
They were both positive on their venture this year, having two common goals in mind – to take their team to the Premier League and play for Demerara at the senior level.
“I am looking to do well and score over 1 000 runs this time around. I have been working hard prior to my departure, keeping myself fit as only a fit and disciplined athlete can achieve his goals and two of the things on my mind are to see my team to the Premier League as well as to crack into the Demerara senior team,” posited Blyden.
He continued, “I will be looking to continue such form when I get back home, by scoring runs for my club GDF, inclusive of centuries for only then would the Demerara selectors pay attention to me and give me a chance in the team.
“That’s what I will be waiting for, as I intend to prove my worth to them and I know that once I get that opportunity, there will be no turning back for me.”
Like Blyden, Baker is looking to score more runs while remaining injury-free this season.
“Were it not for the back injury, I would have landed over 50 wickets. This time around, I am looking to stay injury-free and once I achieve that, my next aim is to guide my club to the Premier League following which I intend to come home and try and make the Demerara senior team,” said Baker.
They refused to pick a winner in the race for the GCB elections, but called on the candidate who takes over the stewardship of cricket in Guyana, to implement his ideas.
“We wish all the candidates best of luck. We are also looking forward to seeing the development of cricket in Guyana, where our senior players and even some junior players can be encouraged to stay at home and play.
“Everyone has good ideas before they are elected and when they do get elected, those ideas become a thing of the past. Hope this time around, the successful candidate will implement his ideas as our cricket is not going forward and is definitely in need of a pick-me-up state.”
Demerara right-arm fast bowler Kellon Carmichael was scheduled to leave today also, but he will be doing so sometime next week, while the trio will return to these shores in early June.