National Coach Esuan Crandon and Manager Alvin Johnson are optimistic about today’s second-round home game against defending four-day champions Barbados, though they acknowledged that it will be a pivotal game for the so far winless Guyanese.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport yesterday during a practice session at the Providence stadium, the venue for today’s encounter, both Johnson and Crandon were enthusiastic about the national side using the home-field scenario and conditions to their advantage.
“Obviously we are disappointed with the showing against Jamaica, the first innings score was a blow for us as we had to catch up in the second innings but we managed to come back strongly and bowled well in a positive fight back,” Johnson said.
Guyana, which has not been playing full-strength due to injuries to skipper Leon Johnson, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were handed another body blow when their premier fast-bowler Ronsford Beaton was advised by doctors to rest for the second round due to a muscle strain.
As a result Raun Johnson, the 6’5 Berbice fast-bowler who has been earmarked for greater things since the Inter-county 4-day where he was one of the better bowlers of the tournament, will replace his fellow pace partner.
The manager also praised batsman Vishal ‘Cheesy’ Singh for his resilience show during his workman-like 73 in the second innings in which he dug in and kept his team afloat. He is also optimistic about younger players like Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandarpaul Hemraj and Johnson who have been brought into the team in the absence of the senior players; stepping up to the task and handling themselves maturely come this second round.
Meanwhile, Crandon said that the team is not despondent at their seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Jamaica and shrugged off concerns about injuries which have weakened the team.
“I think we have a good young squad, they have been working and playing well lately and will have to continue working hard while working along with the team plans in order to be successful”, Crandon said.
The coach also spoke about the courage demonstrated by Guyanese players who, without the skills of their big guns still played the full four days and staged a brave fight back in the second innings.
“Definitely we took a lot of positives from the Jamaican game, we [were] able to bring it back in the later sessions being able to play the game into the final day which was credit to our bowlers who bowled well,” he said. The former national all-rounder also spoke of advantages of playing on the home pitch.
“You would want to think that playing at home you would be more comfortable knowing the conditions more than the opposition, we should have the advantage going into this crucial game if the guys put in all the hard work, it’s just for us to apply ourselves, application will be the major task,” he said.
Guyana was bowled out for a paltry 117 in the first innings. However, Crandon said the team will be looking to post a first innings total of 300 or more and that they will be putting the loss behind them to work as a team. He then appealed to his team to continue to demonstrate their discipline and commitment to the team’s goals while carrying their individual responsibilities.
Crandon said that the team was inspired and focused after Jamaican and world class sprinter Yohan Blake had taken some time to mentor the local players; speaking to them about hard work and discipline as well as about being ambassadors for the sport.
Today’s day/night encounter bowls off at 3pm at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
