-Sarwan, Carmichael and Carew new faces in 14 man squad
Guyana’s latest West Indies limited-overs player and former West Indies under-19 captain Leon Johnson has been chosen to lead defending champions Demerara in the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/El-Dorado-sponsored senior inter-county championships which is scheduled to commence on Friday.
The 21-year-old Johnson made his one day international debut for the West Indies on a recent tour of Canada where he had an aggregate of 103 runs with a highest score of 51 made against Canada in the triangular tournament.
Johnson has been chosen to lead the side in the absence of West Indies vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, his West Indies team-mate Shivnarine Chanderpaul and national middle-order batsman Travis Dowlin, all of whom have led Demerara in the past.
As was the scenario last year, there is no place in the squad for fast bowlers Rayon Griffith, Jeremiah Harris or former West Indies fast bowler Reon King.
Even national wicketkeeper/batsman Darwin Christian, who was replaced by Everest’s Joseph Perry, finds himself not being considered as the selectors have opted for a youthful squad for this year’s encounter.
Three (3) new faces in batsman Ravi Sarwan, brother of Ramnaresh, and who represented Guyana at the under-15 level, all-rounder Kellon Carmichael and fast bowler Dion Carew, have been included in the 14-man squad.
Fast bowler Quason Nedd, who bowled impressively in the two trial matches that were held at the Everest Cricket Club ground, has been placed on the standby list along with former national opener Krishna Arjune.
National under-19 left-arm orthodox bowler Totaram Bishun and Saheed Gittens also find themselves on the standby list of four with Nedd and Arjune.
Twenty-year-old former national under-19 captain and West Indies vice-captain Steven Jacobs, along with former national under-19 players in openers Shemroy Barrington, Rajendra Chandrika and Carmichael, are in the squad. So too is batting all-rounder Christopher Barnwell along with Orin Forde, Dion Ferrier, national off-spinner Zaheer Mohammed, Sauid Drepaul and wicket keeper/batsman Perry.
The team will play its’ first game against the Trevon Garraway-led Essequibo at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground Bourda on Friday. The 14 man squad reads:
Leon Johnson (captain), Rajendra Chandrika, Christopher Barnwell, Krishna Deosarran, Steven Jacobs, Orin Forde, Zaheer Mohammed, Sauid Drepaul, Ravi Sarwan, Joseph Perry, Dion Ferrier, Kellon Carmichael and Dion Carew.
The four standbys listed are Krishna Arjune, Quason Nedd, Saheed Gittens and Totaram Bishun.
No manager or coach has yet been appointed for the team.