Defending champs take on Essequibo today
DEFENDING Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/El Dorado senior Inter-county limited overs champions Berbice open their defence of the title today when they face perennial whipping boys of local cricket Essequibo at the Blairmont Community Centre ground.
The Assad Fudadin-led Berbice team includes eight of the nine players who represented Guyana in the recently concluded Airtel Champions League in South Africa, along with promising fast bowler Keon Joseph, while West Indies fast bowler Brandon Bess has been placed on the standby list.
According to an official of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) who chose to remain anonymous, Bess’ whereabouts since his return from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) High Performance Centre (HPC) in Cave Hill, Barbados, is unknown, hence the selectors had no choice than to place him on the standby list.
However, the selectors are confident that those selected to represent the Ancient County in the tournament would do so very well, with Fudadin, who was at the helm last year, receiving support from Royston and Esaun Crandon, Richard Ramdeen, Narsingh Deonarine, Jonathan Foo, Devendra Bishoo, Delbert Hicks and Veerasammy Permaul, who all have experience at the first class level.
Essequibo have selected a young squad to contest this tournament, as a means of rebuilding following the migration of national fast bowler Trevon Garraway to Demerara.
Nevertheless, skipper Ryan Fredericks can rely on national selectee Trevor Benn, brothers Dillon and Jason Heyliger, Ricardo and Anthony Adams (no relation), Ronsford Beaton, the veteran Robert Moore and young Herry Greene who was a member of the national Under-15 team this year.
The action is set to get under way at 09:30 h and the teams are:
Berbice from: Assad Fudadin (captain), Richard Ramdeen, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Royston Crandon (vice-captain), Narsingh Deonarine, Jonathan Foo, Krisendat Ramoo, Eugene La Fleur, Delbert Hicks, Anthony Bramble, Devendra Bishoo, Esaun Crandon, Keon Joseph, Michael Newland and Veerasammy Permaul.
Essequibo from: Ryan Fredericks, Norman Fredericks, Dillon Heyliger, Jason Heyliger, Balchand Shivamber, Faizal Karim, Ricardo Adams, Anthony Adams, Navishaul Pooran, Narendra Mandholall, Robert Moore, Herry Greene, Ronsford Beaton and Trevor Benn.