Dear Editor,
GUYANA Amazon Warriors batsmen are struggling to get runs as the team is crawling at fourth position on the points table. After playing five matches they won two matches humbling the defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders on both occasions.

However, they lost their other three matches because of poor batting. The Warriors inconsistent batting is a matter of serious concern. Brandon King continuous failure is putting immense pressure on the top order batting. It is time for the leadership of the GAW to be decisive and allow Shimron Hetmyer to bat permanently at number three.

Brandon King or Chanderpaul Hemraj, one of them should open the batting with the solid Mohammed Hafeez, with the clear understanding that they must get runs. It is imperative that the skipper Nicholas Pooran bat higher up the order. The aggressive Pooran will have to lead from the front with the bat. He is capable of hitting the spinners and can hit the quicker bowlers. Shoib Malik is also a solid batsman and the captain will have to be flexible in his batting order.

In any circumstances when the team needs a ‘pinch’ hitter then the best person to use is Romario Sheperd. Sheperd is a utility player, he can bat and score quick runs and he can also stay at the wicket depending on the situation. He is a very good fast bowler. He need to be nurtured and guided as a bowler. Sheperd, as we see in the ‘Super’ over was able to defend six runs for the Warriors to win that crucial encounter against TKR.
The Warriors team got six batsmen who are capable of batting better than Roston Chase. However, the GAW batsmen must concentrate on their batting when they are at the crease.

As for the bowling, Sheperd must be given the opportunity to bowl with a spot on field placing. Naveen-ul-Haq is a bowler that must be used properly. He can bowl in the depth but he will have to bowl to batsmen that are vulnerable to his bowling. While the other pacer, Odean Smith, must be guided and advised to bowl to his field. The fact that the two veterans Hafeez and Malik are experienced spinners then with the highly competent Imran Tahir, along with the two of them are the spinners in the team, it is difficult to fit in another spinner. The six bowlers must be able to take responsibility for the team’s bowling.

With the tournament approaching the half-way mark, the GAW leadership must be fully cognisant of the fact that they must settle with the best team to play in the remaining matches and bring home the title. The CPL is the Cricket tournament that is the most attractive to cricket fans in the Caribbean. This year’s extravaganza is not with the fans in the stadium but the television and our people in their living rooms.

Our sponsors and franchise holders must take a ‘bow’ as the deadly pandemic is being defeated with the joy and happiness on the cricket field. While the West Indies selectors continue to look away from our players let us rally behind our own Hetmyer, Shepherd and now Pooran. These players in the remaining matches must play for their team/franchise and themselves. It is we the followers and supporters that are losing sleep and looking forward for victory and their fascinating and success. Come on Warriors, let us war to victory.

Yours sincerely,
Neil Kumar