By Calvin Roberts in Barbados
Compliments of Ansa McAl Limited, Cummings Electrical, Lifetime Realty, P&P Insurance, Cellular Plus and Hanes (Guyana) Limited
Manager of the Guyana TCL under-19 team Alvin Johnson is pleased with the team’s performance to date.
The defending champions are presently sitting on top of the points standings with 28 points after three rounds.
“To not say that I am pleased with this team’s performance would be unbecoming of me as they have proven themselves to date that they are worthy to be the champions at the end of this tournament,” Johnson told Stabroek Sports after the team’s practice session at the Wanderers Cricket Club ground yesterday and expressed his delight at the approach of his batsmen and the bowlers at the session.
“We had a good session and the management team inclusive of the coach, captain and myself, were pleased at the approach of the players. We had the opportunity to look at a few batsmen including our openers Royan Fredericks and Trevon Griffith along with Royston Alkins and Jonathan Foo and we were impressed with their display,” Johnson who is also a vice president of the Guyana Cricket Board added.
“The pitch had some life in it and that is exactly what we were expecting when we came here and our bowlers namely Leon Scott, Keon Joseph, Dillon Heyliger along with Seon Hetmyer and Totaram Bishun all had some good spells which was good for them also.”
“What was heartening also was that the captain Eugene La Fleur was involved in the fielding drills and he too was upbeat about getting back into the team and leading from the front.”
Reflecting on the team’s performance in their previous game against the host Barbados, Johnson, like coach Hubern Evans before him, stated that he was satisfied with the outcome of the game.
“When we entered into that game, we were looking to first gain first innings points and then an outright victory. Barbados, having scored 300 runs were also looking to get first innings points but the weather played havoc with both teams chances and at the end of the day, I must say that I am happy with the outcome as it enables us to maintain our six points advantage that we entered into the game with over them.”
“The weather may be playing an important role in this tournament, and the fact that we are ahead at the completion of three rounds augurs well for us. But having said such, we do not intend to become complacent in our remaining two matches against Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago as we are looking to maximize our points standing in them.”
Wary of Creary and the Jamaicans.
Johnson also took some time to reflect on the upcoming game against Jamaica stating that he was wary of them including their captain Andre Creary and Horace Miller.
“Both of these guys played for the West Indies in the recent Under-19 World Cup tournament and they can also change the course of a game in the twinkling of an eye. When we last played against them in the tournament last year, they defeated us by an innings and 50 runs in the three-day format whilst Miller struck a whirlwind 77 against us in the limited overs final, so we are aware of their capabilities. “Having said such, the camaraderie in the camp is good and the guys are capable of pulling out all the stops to ensure that we come out victorious at the end of this tournament. There are two psychological advantages we have over them also. Firstly, we are the defending champions even though we lost to them last year. Secondly, they have not won their last two games in this competition even though they led on first innings and the results of the other matches have also been advantageous to us. But we are not going to be complacent in our remaining two games and will be looking to maximize our position in both of them even though we know that the Jamaicans would be on a redemption path.”
The manager who is in his sixth year at the national youth level also told Stabroek Sport that there were no worrying signs of injuries in the team as compared to the last two rounds.
“Sookdeo (Jeetendra) is feeling 100% okay, whilst Scott has not complained over the past two days about his back. On captain Eugene La Fleur ankle, he is okay also and raring to have a go at the Jamaicans.”
Johnson did state that changes will be made for the fourth round game against Jamaica which will be played on the unknown Yorkshire Cricket Ground from tomorrow weather permitting with La Fleur who missed the previous game likely to come back in .
