By Clifton Ross
Guyana’s national cricket team will look to halt their losing streak when they oppose defending champions Jamaica in their final four-day match of the West Indies Cricket Board season.
After gaining first inning points against the Leeward Islands in their opening encounter the Guyana team has lost successive matches to Barbados, the Windward Island and Trinidad and Tobago respectively.
With no hopes of reaching the semi-finals, the locals will mainly be playing for whatever pride there is when they take on the undefeated Jamaicans at the Providence National Stadium.
Guyana are currently in fifth place in the points standings with 18 points while the Jamaicans are current joint leaders tying with the Windward Islands on 48 points, but have played one game less than them.
Both teams will announce their final 11 today but the coaches of both teams have confirmed there will be changes to their respective squads.
Jamaica coach Junior Bennett confirmed the inclusions of former West Indian player Brenton Parchment and left-hander Simon Jackson in place of opener Xavier Marshall and Andre McCarthy who flew back home following their team’s Super50 win against Guyana on Sunday at the same venue.
Guyana’s coach Esaun Crandon confirmed one change to his squad that of batsman Chanderpaul Hemraj who will replace Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Sarwan, along with Shivnarine Chanderpaul will not be playing due to contractual commitments with their respective English County sides Leicestershire (Sarwan) and Derbyshire (Chanderpaul).
“Our goal is to go out and play good consistent cricket,” said Bennett.
“Guyana has always been a quality team, so we will be aiming to continue our undefeated run,” he added.
“We are undefeated in the four-day format and we would like to head to the final stages of the tournament on a high.”
Guyana coach Esaun said his team will look to play positively against the Jamaicans.
“We plan to go out and play positive cricket as we have been doing since returning home,” he said. “Jamaica are unbeaten in the four-day format and we are looking to change that.
“Our goal is to finish on a high note and beating the table leaders would be a great way to finish our run at home.
“Additionally I would like to see our batsmen carry on and make a big one since our only century came from Shiv (Chanderpaul).
”That statistic speaks of inconsistency in our batting, but I have faith that one or some of the guys will put their hands up,” the former national fast bowler added.
The match starts at 10:00hrs and admission is free to the public.
Guyana squad: Veerasammy Permaul (captain),Rajendra Chandrika, Assad Fudadin, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Anthony Bramble, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs and Zaheer Mohamed.
Jamaica Squad: Tamar Lambert (captain), David Bernard, Nkrumah Bonner, Zeniffe Fowler, Danza Hyatt, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlton Baugh, Nikita Miller, Odean Brown, Andrew Richardson, Sheldon Cotterell, Brenton Parchment and Simon Jackson.
