… Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre also involved

DESPITE undergoing a rigorous training session hours ago ahead of their clash against Red Steel at the Guyana National Stadium tonight, six members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team found the time to interact with Guyana’s future stars at the Everest Cricket Club ground yesterday.

Members from Everest Cricket Club, Gandhi Youth Organisation, Demerara Cricket Club and even the Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre, along with Digicel’s Marketing Manager Jacqueline James and Sponsorship and Events Manager Gavin Hope braved the sweltering heat to get a few tips on batting and bowling from the Amazon Warriors unit.
Present were Guyana’s very own Christopher Barnwell, Leon Johnson, Kevin Paul, Daniel Basdeo and Ashkay Persaud, along with their Amazon Warriors teammate in Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder Navin Stewart.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, even as the players were interacting with their guests, Digicel’s Communications Manager Vidya Bijlall-Sanichara said her Company though it best to have the Amazon Warriors players interact and share tips with the future stars, and even take a few photographs.
“Today’s activity is basically an interaction between the players and club members of cricket clubs along with the children of Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre. This is kind of like something you have as a mentorship, having a LCPL care to it,” said Bijlall-Sanichara.
She applauded the six players, who despite having rigorous practice sessions and other corporate events to attend to, still found the time to come and share their knowledge with the children, who also look up to them as heroes.
“When you look around, certainly you can see that some of these youngsters would like to become famous cricketers some day, just like the Amazon Warriors stars, so to have pointers from them and even being taught on how to hold a ball or bat is something that they can take away with them for a lifetime.”
It was a wonderful spectacle, to see both Johnson and Barnwell paying keen and special interest in the students from Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre, even applauding them when they played a powerful drive to a ball bowled.
In fact, both players also demonstrated the proper way to hold the bat to their audience who were keen listeners and learners, as several of them could be seen ensuring they have the right grip.
At another point of the Everest tennis court that was used for the activity, Stewart, was imparting his knowledge as a fast-bowling all-rounder to four young and upcoming fast bowlers, including DCC’s very own Deron Crandon, following which he brought them together and imparted a few tips to them as well.
Even though Paul, Persaud and Basdeo are three of the six Under-19 players attached to the Amazon Warriors team, they received tips and pointers on how to improve their own techniques. It was a wonderful sight to see them fielding and answering questions from the audience.

(By Calvin Roberts)