GUYANA Amazon Jaguars head coach, Esaun Crandon, wants his players to get mentally in tune with red-ball cricket after a slew of white-ball cricket and for some, no competitive cricket.

According to Crandon, in an interview with News Room, “A lot of the guys have not been playing a lot of cricket apart from those who were in the USA, so, most of the guys have been trying to get back in the groove, tighten up their technique and try to construct a very good game plan.”

The team is in preparation mode for the Regional Four-Day Championship in February, and it has been quite different from previous years, as there was a change in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) administration, a rampaging pandemic, and the weather has not been favourable.

Crandon, a Level III coach, further posited that what will be needed to reap success is players being able to make a mental transition to the longer format.

“Most of the guys have been playing white-ball cricket, but it is to make that transition which is very important; but when you are doing that, it is more of a mindset thing.”

Crandon added they are considering the option of playing the first practice match at the Albion Community Centre ground as part of preparations for the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Senior Selection panel, Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was at LBI on Wednesday overlooking some of the sessions, had stated earlier this month, should players put in standout performances in these practice matches, he is willing to give them the nod.

COVID-19 brought an abrupt end to the Regional Four-Day season in 2020, with Guyana Amazon Jaguars losing their stranglehold on the title after five seasons to Barbados Pride.

This new season will only have five rounds instead of ten.