-Jaguars players could be X-Factors for Windies 

By Clifton Ross
The Guyana Jaguars core of stars in Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd are set to face their biggest international challenge yet, when the West Indies tackle New Zealand in next month’s Test/T20 series.

After opting out of England’s tour during the summer when the first biosecure tour amidst the covid-19 pandemic was successfully hosted.
Skip to the Hero CPL which also adapted a bubble setting and all three players were among the consistent performers with Hetmyer leading the batting while Shepherd and Paul had some limelight with the ball.

Now with the West Indies looking to shrug off their mixed series against England, selectors have once again decided to put trust in the Guyanese trio of players; with Paul and Hetymer having more responsibility being named in both the Test and T20 teams while Shepherd will have big shoes to fill after being named as replacement for the injured veteran, Dwayne Bravo.
Shai Hope’s poor series in England cost him his place in the Test team with ex-Windies players even calling for him to permanently give up T20 cricket to focus on the longer format.
Hope’s exit places more pressure on Hetmyer, who has yet to score a Test century with 93 being his highest after 16 games.
His strike-rate of 122 and one half-century score, coupled with his stinging form in the CPL where he at one the leading run-scorer, still ending his campaign in the top 5, will be a huge plus for his confidence in the T20I’s.

Paul will have additional opportunities to perform in both teams, given his role as an all-rounder. Arguably one of the West Indies’ premier prospects with the ball across all formats, Paul with just 3 Tests under his belt, will want to better his top-score of 47 while adding to his current tally of 6 victims.
Another player with form coming off the CPL, Paul’s international T20 record is far more impressive, averaging 22.50 with 25 wickets from 18 games and a career-best of 5-15. It is likely that Paul will be keen on upping his stats with the bat and break his current best of 29.

Shepherd, the hulking fast-bowling, hard-hitting all-rounder has by far the most to prove this upcoming series. After Bravo pulled out due to injury, Shepherd another Guyana Jaguars key player and a recent favorite weapon for Windies in ODI cricket, was drafted as cover.

However, with just 2 games to his credit, the former Windies U19 player could use this series to get his T20 career off to a better start. Wit 2 wickets and a best of 1-37 and a completely blank batting stat record, replacing a veteran piece like Bravo could inspire Shepherd to bring his A-Game against the Kiwis.
One key factor for the trio is readjusting to the life inside a Bubble, as the pandemic persists players were quarantined and placed under strict biosecure guidelines immediately upon arrival.
Although the players were housed in a Bubble during CPL, which provides some mental reassurance for this important series; getting their minds back to playing in quarantine as well as a completely different scenario.

Given the nature of the competition, being an international series and not franchise cricket; the trio will need to tap into their experience and provide support to each other away from home for the first time together overseas during Covid-19.

Also, with the backing of head selector Roger Harper who said a few weeks ago that he was rooting for the team to do well given the return of a few key players; the Jaguars trio will be well aware of their impending responsibilities when the tour officially bowls off on Friday November 27 with the first T20.