(Compliments of Ansa McAl, Regal Stationery, Wartsilla, Romaine Car Wash, F&H Printing and GT&T)

FOLLOWING a near three-hour session at the Queen’s Park Oval in sweltering heat yesterday afternoon, captain of the Guyana NAGICO Super50 team, Christopher Barnwell, said they would not be taking Ireland lightly in their opening game, which starts at 14:00hrs today.“We are not going to take them or any team lightly. Obviously, they are a team with international experience, but we have a group of players who are experienced such as Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine, so we just need to go out there and do the basics right and we will be victorious,” said Barnwell.
Quizzed on the composition of the team, the Demerara Cricket Club all-rounder said it is a good one on paper, but at the end of the day, they still have to go out there and execute the basics, as the game is played on the field and not on paper with names.
Pugnacious opener Trevon Griffith is expected to open the Guyanese batting today against the Phil Simmons-coached Ireland lineup, with Chanderpaul as his partner, while Sarwan, Leon Johnson, Deonarine and Barnwell will follow in that order.
Royston Crandon will lead the lower order, while wicketkeeper batsman Anthony Bramble, along with spin twins Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, will lend support to the top and middle-order batsmen, with Ronsford Beaton throwing in his lot as well.
This means that Robin Bacchus, Assad Fudadin and Paul Wintz, who complete the Guyanese 14-man squad, will have to be content with executing the towel and water duties, unless Barnwell, coach Esaun Crandon and chairman of selectors Rayon Griffith think otherwise.
Based on the look of the pitch for yesterday’s opening game when defending champions Windward Islands played Jamaica, the toss for this second match (today) would be a crucial factor and with Guyana having a spin-based attack, since Crandon and Deonarine can lend valuable support to Bishoo and Permaul, it would be best for them to win the toss and have a bowl first.
On the other hand, Barnwell’s opposite number William Porterfield will be leading a side minus the experienced Trent Johnson, who announced his retirement from the game, but will still be looking for success, ahead of their ODI series against the West Indies.
“Yes it is a big blow to lose Trent, but it creates an opportunity for some other players to put their hands up in the changing room and say ‘we will pick up the mantle’ such as young Craig Young who was in Australia under the guidance of Craig McDermott and some other younger players who are not here on this tour,’” said Porterfield.
Following the WICB NAGICO Super50 tournament, Ireland, who currently hold ICC titles in all three formats and secured their qualification for the 2015 World Cup by winning the WCL Championship earlier this year, will play two T20 internationals and an ODI against West Indies in Jamaica on February 19, 21 and 23.
GUYANA: Christopher Barnwell (captain), Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Anthony Bramble (wicketkeeper), Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz; Esuan Crandon (coach)
IRELAND: William Porterfield (captain), Alex Cusack, George Dockerell, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Andrew Poynter, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young; Phil Simmons (coach).

(By Calvin Roberts in Trinidad and Tobago)