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JUDGING from their side’s showing in the recent Caribbean T20 tournament, Guyana’s skipper Veerasammy Permaul and coach Esaun Crandon have expressed confidence the team will do well in the West Indies Cricket Board Regional 4-day and Super50 tournaments, with the latter bowling off tomorrow. “Basically, I think our batsmen showed good signs during the three-day practice match we had, even though the nature of the pitch was not ideal for the game, as the ball was keeping low very late on the first day.
Going out to compete in the Region, that sort of pitch is not one we was looking forward to having, even though we know that at times we would be faced with such conditions during a match,” stated Permaul.
He added, “Having said that, I think one of the most important factors coming out of that game was the performance of our batsmen, who, after an early scare, rebounded to do well the second time around; and going out into the Regional tournament, it is important that we display discipline and patience with our batting, bowling and fielding.
“Once we can do that and at the same time apply the necessary game plan to effect, we can come out on top and that is definitely something we will be looking to do, especially taking into consideration our performance in the Caribbean T20.”
Looking at the absence of Guyana’s experienced trio in Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine, Permaul said it is a void that is hard to fill, while at the same time recognising the need for other players to step up.
“Indeed the loss of Nar (Deonarine), Shiv (Chanderpaul) and Sars (Sarwan) is a big blow to us, as they would have given us the perfect input we need to start this tournament on a positive note.”
“However, their absence leaves room for a few players to step up and take the mantle of leading player in the team, something Chrissy (Barnwell) had done for us during the Caribbean T20, wherein he dug deep within and brought out his ‘A’ game,” stated Permaul.
He believes that once all the players emulate Barnwell and dig deeper, certainly, cricket-lovers in Guyana can expect great things from the team, who will be looking to repeat and better last year’s performance in both the Regional four-day and Super50 tournaments.
The 31-year-old Crandon, a former national all-rounder who played 38 first class matches for Guyana before taking up the reins of national coach last year, is looking for a repeat and much better performance this time around, in comparison to last year’s tournament.
“Last year when we played, we made the semifinals for both the four-day and Super50 tournaments and I think with the calibre of players we have, coupled with the positive attitude that is being shown at the moment coming from the Caribbean T20 tournament, we stand a good chance of bettering last year’s performance in both formats of the tournament.
“In the Super50, we stand a much better chance as some of the players enjoy that format of the game, whilst we have a well balanced team. All we have to do is go out there, work to our game plan, adapt to the conditions as quickly as possible, then I don’t see why we cannot come out victorious in the end,” stated Crandon.
Reflecting on Guyana’s preparations, the coach believes that it was too short, especially after the squad was selected, but still feels his charges have what it takes to get the job done at the right time.
“We did not have much time to do the necessaries as a team, since the nucleus of the squad was away competing in the Caribbean T20, while the others were battling for supremacy in the Inter-county tournament.
“Having said that, I still have faith in the team and as I said before, once we execute our game plans effectively, we can come out on top over any team, as was evident in that crucial semifinal match against Jamaica in the Caribbean T20, where many persons had written us off, even before we batted.”
The Guyanese left for Antigua yesterday, after partaking in a farewell lunch at the Windjammer Hotel, where both president of the Guyana Cricket Board Dru Bahadur and secretary Anand Sanasie wished the players well and charged them to put their best foot forward at all times.
Guyana’s 13-man squad for tomorrow’s opening Super50 contest against the Leeward Islands reads: Veerasammy Permaul (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Trevon Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs, Derwin Christian, Rajiv Ivan, Ricardo Adams, Devendra Bishoo, Paul Wintz and Ronsford Beaton.
Going out to compete in the Region, that sort of pitch is not one we was looking forward to having, even though we know that at times we would be faced with such conditions during a match,” stated Permaul.
He added, “Having said that, I think one of the most important factors coming out of that game was the performance of our batsmen, who, after an early scare, rebounded to do well the second time around; and going out into the Regional tournament, it is important that we display discipline and patience with our batting, bowling and fielding.
“Once we can do that and at the same time apply the necessary game plan to effect, we can come out on top and that is definitely something we will be looking to do, especially taking into consideration our performance in the Caribbean T20.”
Looking at the absence of Guyana’s experienced trio in Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine, Permaul said it is a void that is hard to fill, while at the same time recognising the need for other players to step up.
“Indeed the loss of Nar (Deonarine), Shiv (Chanderpaul) and Sars (Sarwan) is a big blow to us, as they would have given us the perfect input we need to start this tournament on a positive note.”
“However, their absence leaves room for a few players to step up and take the mantle of leading player in the team, something Chrissy (Barnwell) had done for us during the Caribbean T20, wherein he dug deep within and brought out his ‘A’ game,” stated Permaul.
He believes that once all the players emulate Barnwell and dig deeper, certainly, cricket-lovers in Guyana can expect great things from the team, who will be looking to repeat and better last year’s performance in both the Regional four-day and Super50 tournaments.
The 31-year-old Crandon, a former national all-rounder who played 38 first class matches for Guyana before taking up the reins of national coach last year, is looking for a repeat and much better performance this time around, in comparison to last year’s tournament.
“Last year when we played, we made the semifinals for both the four-day and Super50 tournaments and I think with the calibre of players we have, coupled with the positive attitude that is being shown at the moment coming from the Caribbean T20 tournament, we stand a good chance of bettering last year’s performance in both formats of the tournament.
“In the Super50, we stand a much better chance as some of the players enjoy that format of the game, whilst we have a well balanced team. All we have to do is go out there, work to our game plan, adapt to the conditions as quickly as possible, then I don’t see why we cannot come out victorious in the end,” stated Crandon.
Reflecting on Guyana’s preparations, the coach believes that it was too short, especially after the squad was selected, but still feels his charges have what it takes to get the job done at the right time.
“We did not have much time to do the necessaries as a team, since the nucleus of the squad was away competing in the Caribbean T20, while the others were battling for supremacy in the Inter-county tournament.
“Having said that, I still have faith in the team and as I said before, once we execute our game plans effectively, we can come out on top over any team, as was evident in that crucial semifinal match against Jamaica in the Caribbean T20, where many persons had written us off, even before we batted.”
The Guyanese left for Antigua yesterday, after partaking in a farewell lunch at the Windjammer Hotel, where both president of the Guyana Cricket Board Dru Bahadur and secretary Anand Sanasie wished the players well and charged them to put their best foot forward at all times.
Guyana’s 13-man squad for tomorrow’s opening Super50 contest against the Leeward Islands reads: Veerasammy Permaul (captain), Christopher Barnwell, Trevon Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs, Derwin Christian, Rajiv Ivan, Ricardo Adams, Devendra Bishoo, Paul Wintz and Ronsford Beaton.
