Captain of the Demerara team to contest the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/El Dorado sponsored limited overs inter county tournament and Guyana’s latest West Indies limited overs player Leon Johnson expects his side to do well.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport prior to a training session at his club, Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Johnson stated that his experience gained from leading the national and West Indies under-19 teams in 2005 and 2006 would serve as valuable assets for him during this tournament.
“I would be relying on my tenure as Guyana and West Indies under-19 captain in 2005 and 2006 to carry me through this tournament.
“Apart from that, I have been around more experienced guys in the calibre of West Indies captain and vice-captain Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, along with recently-elected International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricketer-of-the-Year Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and I must say that I have learnt a thing or two from those guys.”
He added: “With an experienced bunch of players in the likes of batting all rounders Steven Jacobs and Christopher Barnwell, Orin Forde, Dion Ferrier, Zaheer Mohammed and myself, I do expect this team to do well, as we have been around for awhile at this level and beyond.
“Added to that list, there are Shemroy Barrington, who has played at the senior inter-county level before in last year’s 20/20 competition and can also be a bowler’s nightmare on his day, Ravi Sarwan, who has been enjoying a productive season to date at the club level and Kellon Carmichael, who can handle his own with both the bat and the ball.
“Nevertheless, I am expecting a total team effort as we go out there and look to win the title for the fourth year running as a team. I am also expecting a lot from Mohammed, who is a senior player, especially with the ball,” said Johnson.
He, was, however, quick to point out that the Berbicians would be the team to watch as over the past decade or so, it has either been Demerara or Berbice taking home the title.
“Not to take anything away from Essequibo, as they are known to pull some trumps out of the bag on any given day as they do compete heavily in this form of cricket, one still has to keep a close eye on the Berbicians, especially with three players of international experience in their lineup along with several national players.
“Sewnarine Chattergoon, Mahendra Nagamootoo and Narsingh Deonarine are players who demand their respect on the field of play and, along with Royston and Esaun Crandon, Brendon Bess and Homchand Pooran just to name a few, there is no way Berbice can be taken lightly in this competition,” Johnson declared.
Stronger bating lineup
The 21-years-old Johnson believes that the Demerara team is stronger in its batting compared to the other counties on paper.
“Even though we don’t have Ronnie (Sarwan) or Shiv (Chanderpaul), we are, to my mind the stronger side in the batting department on paper. I say on paper because we can go out there and get blown away for a meagre total if the batsmen play reckless shots and get out.
“But once we get a start from our openers, and with a batting lineup that consists of Barnwell, Barrington, Jacobs, Sarwan, Rajendra Chandrika, Forde, Ferrier and myself to come, we can be a formidable force to reckon with on the day.
“In Barnwell and West Indies under-19 vice-captain Jacobs are two of the game’s most talented all-rounders on the local scene as they both possess the capabilities of changing a game with either the bat or the ball and even though we are without Ronnie and Shiv, we are not and will not be fazed by their absence,” said Johnson.
He continued: “We have performed creditably without both of them a few years ago and came out victorious and there is no reason why such a performance cannot be repeated this year. It will show to others that Demerara’s cupboard of cricketing talent is not empty.”
Johnson recently returned from England where he had a successful stint with his English club Sandwich Town in the Kent League aggregating over 1,000 runs which included five centuries with a highest score of 136.
He also captured 39 wickets with his right arm leg breaks with his best returns being 5-43 against Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club from a total of 18 matches.
“My stint this time around was more productive than last season’s, as I set out to be positive in everything I do for the club. Thus I managed to score five centuries and took over 39 catches.”
He also had his first taste of international cricket when he represented the regional side in a triangular series held in Canada recently where he had an aggregate of 79 runs with a highest score of 51 made against Canada.
“I felt great when I was called up for the team. Having worked hard over the past two years to achieve same, I felt elated when I got the call and it goes to show how much hard work can pay off for you. All I am doing now is looking to go from strength to strength as well as cement my place in the team.”
Johnson and Demerara will play their first game against Essequibo at the GCC ground, Bourda on Friday and, in preparation for this, they will be having an extended net session at the Everest Cricket Club from 10:00hrs today.