NEWLY appointed national Under-19 skipper Ronsford Beaton believes the 14-man squad, selected to represent Guyana in the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB)-organised, TCL-sponsored, Regional Under-19 tournament, can bring home the bacon. Speaking with Chronicle Sport yesterday morning after his team’s physical fitness workout under the guidance of Noshavyah King of Genesis Fitness Express at the Transport Sports Club pavilion, the 18-year-old Beaton was very ecstatic about Guyana’s chances this year.
“First of all, I want to say my appointment to the position of captain was not a surprise since I led Essequibo in partnership with Anthony Adams in the just concluded GTM Inter-county tournament. I am happy to lead the team at home, especially in conditions familiar to us.
“Leading the team with Adams, we did an excellent job during the tournament. Even though we did not do well in the three-day tournament, we came back to defeat Demerara in the one-day aspect of the tournament and, judging from that and looking at the compilation of the team, I knew I would have been handed the captaincy position,” said Beaton.
He added “I think my leadership quality displayed itself for the selectors when we defeated Demerara and looking at the team and with certain players not included in the squad, I told myself I would get the job, even ahead of Kwame Crosse whom I am happy to have as my deputy.”
The Montserratian-born Essequibian who played three first-class matches for Guyana in this year’s WICB tournament, making his debut against England ‘A’ team also known as the England Lions, believes the all-round composition of the team is the key to their achieving victory this year.
“Over the past years, our bowling has been the backbone of the team while the batting has been inconsistent, but with this squad of players, the new-ball attack led by Crosse, Clinton Pestano and myself, we  will try to make much use of same before handing over to the spinners, led by Amir Khan with support from Gudakesh Motie, the two Adams – Ricardo and Anthony, Joemal La Fleur and Lloydel Lewis.
“We know the conditions here, so we will be starting at an advantage over the other teams. Added to that, the selectors selected the team and to my mind, this is the best possible team they could have come up with, even though some players did not make it and I am willing to go out there and work with what I have to ensure we end up with the championship.”
The right-arm fast bowler, who will be departing these shores some time today to join his West Indies Under-19 counterparts for their USA tour, was high in praise for the work put in by King.
“We have been doing some conditioning and strength training which I feel will serve the team well during the tournament, while we had some net sessions at the LBI ground, which augurs well for our preparations heading into the tournament,” said Beaton, who became the second Essequibian to lead a Guyana team, after Troy Cornelius.
Included  in  their schedule during the 13-day encampment will be pool sessions and a practice game against a Rest Team that could have West Indies T20 player Christopher Barnwell, former Under-19 skipper Steven Jacobs, Kellon Carmichael, Travis Blyden and even Trevon Garraway, just to name a few.