By Clifton Ross
CRICKET Guyana Inc’s (CGI) upcoming unveiling of their new multi-purpose cricket facility at La Bonne Intention (LBI) may play an even bigger part in raising the already high standards of Jaguars’ cricket.
The former five-time champs have set the pace and the benchmark for other territory franchises, ever since running roughshod over the competition following the 2013/14 birth of Regional Professional Cricket League.
Since winning their first title, the Leon Johnson-led team has managed to assert themselves as arguably the most prolific, successful franchise over the last six years.
Added to their amazing run, the Jaguars have earned praises from Cricket West Indies (CWI) over the years for being frontrunner with regard to development and contributions to the West Indies teams across the respective levels and formats.
As a result, the Jaguars new base of operations at LBI could be exactly what they needed to further add to their legendary status. Having a brand new mini, stadium-like venue to train and practice is a major upgrade from past plans.
In recent years, grounds like Everest, Bourda, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), even the National Stadium (Providence), was primarily used to house a number of practice sessions and match simulations for the National team as well as the Academy players.
However, with the LBI facility, which has been the team’s premier venue for indoor net-training sessions, will now have a bigger role to play.
Given the upgrades, some of which include floodlights, it is likely that players will now be able to centrally house their sessions, meetings etc. at a familiar spot with access to a number of indoor and training options.
If bouncing around various venues for five or six seasons did little to unsettle the mental and physical prowess of the Jaguars, having a place to call their home will further buff the capabilities of one of the more dangerous teams in the region.
More so, the Academy players will now have a fixed abode for all their sessions, which is a vast improvement from previous versions of how they would have been training.
More matches under lights will be simulated, something which have predominantly overtaken cricket as Day/Night games play a key part in the work of contemporary cricket, especially in the Regional season.
Also, this upcoming crop of players could also eclipse their more senior teammates, having the opportunity to utilize more equipment, having an international lot of coaches and a few highly recognized local trainers, basically tick all of the boxes needed for running a successful developmental programme.
Also, a new facility will allow for more developmental contracts in the future, a huge plus factor in keeping with CGI’s mandate when it comes to producing national and international cricket stars.
With Covid-19 still running roughshod over the nation, the venue’s role of being a biosecure safe haven for the country’s national and future national stars has never been more significant. Having the LBI facility during a pandemic is a benefit as better biosecure measures and rules can be put in effect prior to its opening.
