By Sean Devers
BATTING all-rounder, 13-year-old Joshua Bollers was added to the Guyana U-13 team after initially being relegated to the list of stand-bys for a bilateral U-13 series against host Trinidad & Tobago which starts on July 30.

The squad, which has been encamped from Sunday at the dorms at the LBI Chetram Singh indoor facility on the East Coast of Demerara, was selected on Saturday after completion of the U13 Inter-County game on Saturday last
The 13-member squad was to be sent to the media yesterday morning after being ratified by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

However, it came to the attention of this writer that Bollers, a right-handed batter from Malteenoes, was not in the touring party despite him scoring the most runs (165 Ave 55 with two 50s) in the Demerara Cricket Board’s (DCB) U-13 franchise tournament, which was used to select the Demerara team for the GCB’s inter-county tournament.

Chairman of the GCB Junior selectors was called for verification that Bollers, the Player of Match in the first inter-county game against Berbice at Bourda, and who did not bowl against Essequibo in the ‘finals’ despite taking three wickets on the previous day, was not in the 13-man squad.

The Chairman of the GCB selectors, who was present at the DCB matches said that Bollers’ name came up, but because three leg-spinners were picked (Bollers played as batter and was not given the opportunity to bowl in the second game) he was left out.
“This was the best team we picked and I was not the only selector,” said Latchman Yadram. The other selectors are Balram Samaroo (Berbice) and Dinesh Joseph (Essequibo).

This writer posted a Facebook post questioning the non-selection of the talented lad in his final year at this level.
The post was seen by a GCB official who promised to deal with the issue and subsequently confirmed that arrangements were made with the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) to allow Bollers to be added to the travelling contingent.

It was also reported that the GCB President contacted the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) President to apologise for the mistake.
The Guyana team will be captained by left-arm spinner Brandon Henry, with his deputy being Richard Ramdeholl and includes batters, USA-based Guyanese Khush Seegobin, MVP of the inter-county tournament Bhomesh Lall, Lomar Seecharran, Joshua Bollers, Justin Dowlin and Makai Dowlin.

The bowling will be led by pacers Raffel McKenzie, Thierry Davis and Makayah Holmes, while leg-spinner Reyaz Latiff and Henry will lead the spin attack.
The Guyana U13 Team: Justin Dowlin, Bhomesh Lall, Richard Ramdeholl (V/C), Khush Seegobin, Lomar Seecharran, Tameshwar Deonandan, Nathaniel Ramsammy, Reyaz Latif, Joshua Bollers, Brandon Henry (Captain), Ethan Silas, Makai Dowlin, Raffel McKenzie, Thierry Davis, Makayah Holmes
Standbys: Nathan Bishop, Darrius Pearson, Ruel Dindyal, Arif Marrimutoo, Usain Fredericks