The mettle of the Guyanese players will undergo a series of tests over the next couple of weeks as the second Caribbean Twenty20 tournament bowls off tomorrow in Antigua.
Opponents and pundits alike will be curious to see whether the side that snatched victory from what appeared to be certain defeat in their semi-final and final matches of last year’s inaugural tournament can replicate those feats.
In both instances Jonathan Foo was intimately involved with his clean power hitting as was Lennox Cush with his historic second hat-trick in this version of the game.
The result? Guyana lifted the coveted title and the right to represent the Caribbean in the Airtel Champions League T20 Championships in South Africa. This year will have its own highlights but all eyes will be on the Guyanese to provide some of last year’s theatrics, if only remotely close.
This year there is no Cush, Narsingh Deonarine and the talented seamer Paul Wintz.
However, there are the inclusions of under-19 left arm swing bowler and debutant Andre Stoll, left arm orthodox spinner Veerasammy Permaul – fresh from his stint at the Sagicor High Performance Centre (HPC) and the West Indies A – and the glue of West Indies middle order and former world number one batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Former West Indies under-19 skipper Steven Jacobs will fill the slot for Cush – a challenge he said he is willing to rise above.
Jacobs’ utterance was reminiscent of manager of the team Carl Moore’s talk of new stars emerging after the tournament.
Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan told Stabroek Sport yesterday before the team departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport that for the replacement players it is an opportunity to vindicate their selection to the team.
Apart from that he stated that every player deserves to be in the team but he also stated that it was unfortunate that the team will be without some of its senior players.
“Nevertheless, I also think that it presents an opportunity for with in another young player and let us just hope that they grab it with both hands,” Sarwan said.
Guyana’s first game is tomorrow night against Jamaica for Group A and according to Sarwan the team’s main focus is taking one game at a time. “We just have to take it (the tournament) one step at a time and our main objective is to win six games,” Sarwan conceded.
He said he believes that his players have worked very hard on their fitness and there is evidence of improvement despite the absence of turf practice due to adverse weather conditions.
In the interim, he is satisfied with the output of the players in training but he made a plea for them to give their all in every match and not look to particular players to shoulder the team.
“I don’t think I would ask for more from the players even though we had bad weather everyone really put in the effort and I was really pleased. It is just a matter of trying to stick to our game plan and hopefully we will be able to do it on consistent basis.
“I want for us to play well as a team. I am not too focussed on me personally [but] of course it would be good if I do well in the tournament but I think the picture is much bigger and that is important
“We are not even thinking about Airtel. I think it is a process and I think we should focus on what’s ahead of us”, the elegant right handed batsman explained.
When Stabroek Sport spoke with Chanderpaul he stated that Guyana’s chances are good especially since the team’s preparation was solid. The talismanic left handed batsman pointed out thought that while there was no turf practice the team must always remember it is the defending champion and therefore should play as such throughout the tourney.
“We have preparing and preparing hard for this tournament and we know we are defending champions and we have to go out and play like that again and hopefully we can get through the first round, then go into the second and then unto the final,” Chanderpaul noted.
Chanderpaul, who is an accumulator of runs and rarely switches gears, revealed that he will be changing his style of play suit the situation of the game. He pointed out that this should also be the approach of the players in the team if the focus is on retaining the title.
Added to that, Chanderpaul wants every player “playing to their full potential” although there are some key elements missing. He stated that quality players have replaced the trio and players have to get it right on the day.
Meanwhile, debutant player Stoll said that he will be using his opportunity as a stepping stone to his career but he has the interest of the team at heart to ensure it retains the title. He revealed that that the coaches have been preparing him psychologically since it is possible that he will be sharing the new ball with Esaun Crandon. The lanky 18-year-old conceded though that he will not be intimidated by the big names of Caribbean cricket “since the game is filled with uncertainties”. He concluded by saying that he will resort to fundamentals of the game.
Jacobs maintained that the team will do well since there exists a good team spirit and the intensity has been nurtured in training. He said that the team seems to be firing on all cylinders and whatever challenges may present itself he will do his best for team especially in the absence of Cush.
For senior male cricketer-of-the-year Devendra Bishoo told Stabroek Sport that it will be good to be back in action with his spin cohort Permaul. The right-arm, leg spinner said that the team’s retention of the title will depend on how well the players execute the basics of the game.
The workaholic noted that he will be doing all that is possible to contribute to the team’s success especially since they are going into the tournament as defending champions. He, too, indicated that the team spirit was good and that all players are raring to go.
Coach Rabindranauth Seeram said he is hopeful that his players can transfer the energy they have shown throughout the training sessions into the tournament. This, he feels, can be a winning formula.
According to Seeram, although there are some senior players not in the side the strategy remains the same. He lauded the return of Chanderpaul although he regretted that he would have lost some quality players.
The former national middle order batsman indicated that the bowling attack has been shored up with the inclusion of Permaul and Stoll and this, he said, can enable Guyana to beat teams by wider margins. He said there was much focus on mental strengthening and this is the tournament for the players to deliver.
