The Guyana/ Stanford Twenty20 cricket team got in some much needed batting practice at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, yesterday.
Speaking to the media during the practice session, coach Albert Smith, said Twenty20 cricket, though still a team sport, was a different ball game.
He said he expected each member of the team, to hold his own if Guyana were to win the title again.
Smith said the unrest in the village of Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara was playing on the players’ minds even as they attempted to get over that situation and focus on the preparation for the tournament.
“The players have asked those involved to bring about calm to the situation.
“We know that cricket is a very important game to the Guyanese nation and the players are getting their minds geared towards the intense preparation that is needed for the competition if we are to be successful,” Smith added.
“The team commenced its preparations in July of last year, but the intense part of it started yesterday (Monday). They did some physical training and now they are getting some much needed batting and bowling sessions,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan who was at the helm when Guyana defeated Trinidad and Tobago in the final to win the inaugural championships in 2006 said he would love to win same again.
“Personally, I would love to win again, thus making Guyana the first team to win back-to-back Twenty20 championships in the Caribbean.
“It will be much more difficult than last year, but we are very much confident, and once we do the right thing, we can definitely lift the championship trophy again,” Sarwan said.
Sarwan said the Carib Beer team for the first round of matches was a very young team which represents a long term investment by the selectors.
“But we have Nagamootoo (Mahendra), Mc Garrell (Neil) and Lennox Cush back in the team and that is good for us.
“There is also Travis Dowlin and Esaun Crandon who were part of the winning team.
“We have not heard anything from Shiv Chanderpaul on his availability, but his presence would definitely be a boost for us. We just have to wait and see what would happen,” Sarwan said.
“There is also Leon Johnson, Darwin Christian and Chris Barnwell, three young and talented players who on their day can transform any game in favour of the team they are representing.
“They can also make a name for themselves in this tournament. I am also confident about my batting form right now despite the fact that I failed to score in my last innings,” he said.
There are no injury concerns for the team at the moment.
Former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler, Reon King, who is assisting with the coaching duties said: “Obviously, Guyana is the team to beat. When it cones to limited overs cricket, we bring a different game to the table and being the defending champions, it will be harder for us this time around. But once we remain fit and focused, we will be a force to reckon with,” King said in an invited comment.
According to Smith, the team will participate in three practice games to be played in Berbice (hopefully) and Georgetown which would help tremendously with the preparation of the team. During the course of these matches, strategies will be worked out on both sides of the game.