… Keon Joseph replaces Keemo Paul

DEFENDING champions Guyana Jaguars will seek to keep alive their fifth consecutive title ambitions when they face the Jamaican Scorpions in round seven of the Regional Four-Day Championship, starting today at 09:30hrs at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
The four-time reigning champions, Jaguars, are currently leading in the fairly competitive six-team tournament on 92 points but suffered their second-straight defeat last week to a struggling Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

On the other hand, the Scorpions sneaked to a second-straight victory to kick-start their campaign after beginning the season with three-straight losses.
Last week’s victory lifted them to fifth in the points table, with 51.2 points from five matches, behind Windward Islands Volcanoes (69), Leeward Island Hurricanes (64.4), Barbados Pride (54.2) and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (50.2).

Meanwhile, Jaguars, playing under new management for the past two rounds, will be hoping to rebound, and at the same time will be looking to extend their lead.
With the elevation of Esaun Crandon to the Windies team for the current England Tour of the Caribbean, assistant coach Rayon Griffith has been promoted to the post of head coach with batting legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul as interim assistant coach but the Griffith/Chanderpaul combination has so far failed the Jaguars.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Griffith said he is expecting an improved performance especially with the Jaguars aware of what is required.
“The mood is still good, the players’ confidence just needs to boost up a bit but the team spirit is high going into tomorrow (today) game,” Griffith said.

Griffith further mentioned that while home advantage is always important, he warned that the Scorpions cannot be taken lightly.
“The Scorpions are always a fairly decent team, and looking at the squad there is experience but at the end of the day is how you as a team come out and perform,” the West Indies A team coach reckoned.

Meanwhile, Jaguars have drafted in pacer Keon Joseph in the 13-man squad. He replaces Keemo Paul who was called up for Windies duties for the third Test against England.
In other matches, Pride will be at home to Red Force at Kensington Oval and Hurricanes will travel to take on Volcanoes at Windsor Park.

Full squad reads: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Raymon Reifer, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, Sherfane Rutherford and Clinton Pestano. Rayon Griffith – head coach, Shivnarine Chanderpaul – assistant coach, Neil Barry Jr – physiotherapist.