Crandon and Jacobs optimistic ahead of opening fixture

TODAY is the day when the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) four-day first class tournament bowls off with three matches across the Caribbean.

Here at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, the Leon Johnson-led Guyana Jaguars will host the Devon Thomas-led Leeward Islands unit and during both team’s preparation camps, their head coaches Esaun Crandon and Ridley Jacobs were optimistic about their team’s chances, ahead of the contest.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport in sweltering heat during their net session at the Everest Cricket Club ground, last Wednesday, the 46-year-old Jacobs applauded the WICB for their initiative in making the tournament a longer one, believing it is a great opportunity for the players themselves.
“It is a good opportunity for most of the players; we have some young players who will have the opportunity to be in the first-class setup and make a name for themselves, as it is a season which will have the players playing more cricket,” said Jacobs.
He added, “Over the years, a lot of the players and even administrators spoke about the tournaments being too short so it is a good thing fro the West Indies administrators, thinking about the initiative of having players playing more cricket which is more important and help them learn their craft.”
The Leewards will go into the contest without the services of West Indies opener Kieran Powell, but Jacobs believes that while the absence will affect the team based on the opener’s experience, it is the perfect opportunity for a young player to take the mantle and step up.
He outlined players of the calibre of Thomas, his deputy Jahmar Hamilton, the experienced Gavin Tonge and leg-spinner Anthony Martin as the ones who are expected to shoulder the responsibility of leading the team in both batting and bowling, backed by Austin Richards and Jacques Taylor.
Quizzed on his thoughts on the Guyana team, Jacobs readily announced that he has not seen the composition of the hosts, but is confident of overcoming them, despite facing them at home, since they were the victorious ones the last time the two sides met.
On the other hand, Crandon while being optimistic about a victory to boost his team’s chances of carting off the Headley/Weekes Trophy and US$12 500 at the end of the double round tournament next year March.
The 32-year-old former Guyana fast bowler said in order for a winning start, they would need to stick to game plan and execute it clinically at al times irrespective of the opposition, adding, “Once we stick to our game plans and execute them the way we should, then I am positive of a victory. I think that we need a lot more consistency in terms of our batting and bowling this time around.”
The Guyanese, whose lineup includes Barbadian Raymon Reifer and dependable West Indies middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, had a miserable first-class season earlier this year, but Crandon and his coaching staff are definitely looking to better such this time around.
“Our performance last season was very disappointing. We will have to put it behind us and seek to improve, try for greater consistency moving forward. We have done a lot of soul-searching and planning after the last season and in our preparations for this new season and at the moment the players are eager to go,” said Crandon.
The Guyana Jaguars have within their lineup, six players who have represented the West Indies at the Test level, led by the 40-year-old Chanderpaul, who has played the most Tests by a West Indian cricket and was recently named in the regional squad which will depart these shores on November 30 to face South Africa.
Johnson is the latest player from the Land of Many Waters to have donned the maroon cap, with Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul doing so before him, even as both Christopher Barnwell and Ronsford Beaton bring with them, West Indies experience as well, having played T20 and represented the ‘A’ team respectively.
However, one of the sore points for Crandon and Johnson today would be selecting the final 11 to take the field against the Leeward Islands, since his side has players who are all capable of breaking into any national team on any given day.
There are three openers in Trevon Griffith, Vishaul Singh and the hard-hitting Rajendra Chandrika, while Johnson, Deonarine, Fudadin and Chanderpaul will shore up the middle order, with Barnwell and Reifer coming in as the all-rounders.
Anthony Bramble is the gloveman so he knows his job is safe so far, but with the presence of Derwin Christian back on these shores and chalking up the scores for Demerara Cricket Club, Bramble will need to duplicate the form he has been showing in recent times with the bat for Albion, or face the selectors’ axe even though he is a contracted player.
Bishoo and Permaul will handle the spin department while Beaton will take charge of the new ball, receiving worthy and ample support from Barnwell, Fudadin and Reifer, with Deonarine lending assistance with his mild off-spinners if needed.
In other first round matches today, the Windwards take on Jamaica at Sabina Park, while Trinidad and Tobago face Barbados at Queen’s Park Oval.
Nigel Duguid and Barbados’ Gregory Brathwaite will call play in this fixture which gets under way from 10:00hrs, with Gyananand Sukhdeo as the third official and former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Reon King executing the duties of Match Referee.
Teams to be chosen from: Guyana Jaguars: Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin, Trevon Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika, Vishaul Singh, Narsingh Deonarine, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo and Ronsford Beaton.
Leeward Islands from: Devon Thomas, Jahmar Hamilton, Quinton Boatswain, Yannick Leonard, Jeremiah Louis, Anthony Martin, Orlando Peters, Austin Richards, Lyndell Richardson, Akeem Saunders, Jacques Taylor, Gavin Tonge and Kelbert Walters.

(By Calvin Roberts)