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TODAY marks one week, since this country’s national cricket team which was selected to compete in the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) 2013 Caribbean T20 tournament in Trinidad and St Lucia from January 6 to 20, has been encamped In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport yesterday, coach of the team and former national player Esaun Crandon said he was pleased with the work ethics being shown by the players during their encampment period to date.
“Basically, the players have been working hard during the past six days of encampment. The energy level is very high and they are working for each other, supporting each other during the training and net sessions, while the fitness level is at a high standard,” posited Crandon.
Guyana had missed the official deadline to submit the team for the tournament, but was granted an extension by the WICB, following which the squad was selected with Veerasammy Permaul and Christopher Barnwell being named captain and vice-captain respectively.
The 30-year-old Crandon, who represented Guyana from 2001 to 2011 before being named coach of this year’s first class team, believes the team can make the country proud in the upcoming tournament, based on its composition, adding that the management team is pleased with the way things are heading.
“We are definitely pleased with the way things are shaping up in the camp at the moment. There is a high level of camaraderie among the players coupled with a high confidence level to go along with the energy level I mentioned earlier.
“To date, we’ve had three net sessions and a few simulation exercises, from which we saw the batsmen hitting the balls hard while the bowlers have been consistent in getting the ball in the right areas to contain the batsmen.”
He added, “Despite this, which is a good sign for us, we still need to be sharper in all three areas of the game, namely batting, bowling and fielding and in the coming weeks before we break the encampment period, we will be working assiduously on those areas, as we aim to hit the ground running and running hard too, when we contest the tournament in Trinidad.”
Looking back to Guyana’s success in this format of the game, when the country won the inaugural 2006 Stanford 20/20 and the WICB’s inaugural tournament four years later, Crandon is of the view that this present crop of players can make the country proud, as they did two years ago.
“We’ve been successful before, so I would say the guys know what needs to be done and also have the experience in getting the job done, when you look at the team. Most of them have played before, so they are experienced and know what is required of them.
“However, that is not to say we have any plans of being complacent in this tournament as we will not be taking anybody lightly, since our aim is to win this tournament and at the same time, bring some glory and adulation to Guyana.
“The way the guys are feeling now, if this tournament was scheduled to be played next week, we would definitely be coming out on top. They have displayed a hunger to train, whether we are in the pool at Colgrain or even on the field at the Guyana National Stadium and that is a positive sign for both the coaching and management staff,” said Crandon.
When told of the practice matches that have been planned for the team, including one against local powerhouse Berbice at the Guyana National Stadium next week Friday night, a delightful Crandon said he welcomed such a contest, since it would give him the chance to further evaluate his charges.
“We have a couple of weeks to go, so we will be looking to get in as much work as possible before we leave for this tournament. While we are not looking to push the players above the hilt to create any injuries, we are looking to get the best out of them in camp and during the tournament as well.
“The practice matches will be a big surplus for us, as we will be presented with the opportunity to see where we are and then compare it to where we need to be for this tournament, while giving us a chance to work on the areas we may be lacking in,” Crandon stated.
The team, which was joined by off- spinning all-rounder Steven Jacobs yesterday morning, still awaits the arrival of Permaul. Players undergo daily practice sessions at the Guyana National Stadium and the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence under Crandon, who receives valuable assistance from Gavin Nedd and Orin Bailey.
“Basically, the players have been working hard during the past six days of encampment. The energy level is very high and they are working for each other, supporting each other during the training and net sessions, while the fitness level is at a high standard,” posited Crandon.
Guyana had missed the official deadline to submit the team for the tournament, but was granted an extension by the WICB, following which the squad was selected with Veerasammy Permaul and Christopher Barnwell being named captain and vice-captain respectively.
The 30-year-old Crandon, who represented Guyana from 2001 to 2011 before being named coach of this year’s first class team, believes the team can make the country proud in the upcoming tournament, based on its composition, adding that the management team is pleased with the way things are heading.
“We are definitely pleased with the way things are shaping up in the camp at the moment. There is a high level of camaraderie among the players coupled with a high confidence level to go along with the energy level I mentioned earlier.
“To date, we’ve had three net sessions and a few simulation exercises, from which we saw the batsmen hitting the balls hard while the bowlers have been consistent in getting the ball in the right areas to contain the batsmen.”
He added, “Despite this, which is a good sign for us, we still need to be sharper in all three areas of the game, namely batting, bowling and fielding and in the coming weeks before we break the encampment period, we will be working assiduously on those areas, as we aim to hit the ground running and running hard too, when we contest the tournament in Trinidad.”
Looking back to Guyana’s success in this format of the game, when the country won the inaugural 2006 Stanford 20/20 and the WICB’s inaugural tournament four years later, Crandon is of the view that this present crop of players can make the country proud, as they did two years ago.
“We’ve been successful before, so I would say the guys know what needs to be done and also have the experience in getting the job done, when you look at the team. Most of them have played before, so they are experienced and know what is required of them.
“However, that is not to say we have any plans of being complacent in this tournament as we will not be taking anybody lightly, since our aim is to win this tournament and at the same time, bring some glory and adulation to Guyana.
“The way the guys are feeling now, if this tournament was scheduled to be played next week, we would definitely be coming out on top. They have displayed a hunger to train, whether we are in the pool at Colgrain or even on the field at the Guyana National Stadium and that is a positive sign for both the coaching and management staff,” said Crandon.
When told of the practice matches that have been planned for the team, including one against local powerhouse Berbice at the Guyana National Stadium next week Friday night, a delightful Crandon said he welcomed such a contest, since it would give him the chance to further evaluate his charges.
“We have a couple of weeks to go, so we will be looking to get in as much work as possible before we leave for this tournament. While we are not looking to push the players above the hilt to create any injuries, we are looking to get the best out of them in camp and during the tournament as well.
“The practice matches will be a big surplus for us, as we will be presented with the opportunity to see where we are and then compare it to where we need to be for this tournament, while giving us a chance to work on the areas we may be lacking in,” Crandon stated.
The team, which was joined by off- spinning all-rounder Steven Jacobs yesterday morning, still awaits the arrival of Permaul. Players undergo daily practice sessions at the Guyana National Stadium and the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence under Crandon, who receives valuable assistance from Gavin Nedd and Orin Bailey.
