Says Delvon Mc Ewan
Just two days before the Regional Professional Cricket League (PCL) bowls off, the big question within the local cricket fraternity is whether the Guyana batsmen can deliver with the bat in an effort to see the Guyana Jaguars win the inaugural tournament.
For 12 years dating back to 2002 when Carl Hooper was the skipper of the national side, teams that have represented Guyana have failed to win a regional first class title and the reason has been the constant failures by our batsmen.
In recent years Guyana’s batting has centered around, Rajendra Chandrika 22 matches (m) average (avg.) 21.90, Vishaul Singh 13m avg. 17.16, Christopher Barnwell 25m avg. 19.08, Reon Griffith 5m avg. 15.55, Anthony Bramble 8m avg. 28.38, Leon Johnson 51m avg. 33.65, Assad Fudadin 73m avg. 33.35, Steven Jacobs 20m avg. 16.58 and Chandrapaul Hemraj 5m avg. 13.10.
Those players have played a total of 222 matches for an average of 22.1 which is not an acceptable mean for nine batsmen.
More interestingly, if Johnson and Fudadin’s modest statistics are left out, then the remaining averages would add up to 18.8 from 98 matches. The pair of Johnson and Fudadin, who represented West Indies during that period are also the only batsmen of the nine with centuries to their names.
Meanwhile the figures of new man Reifer, who have an average of 22.30 from 23 first class matches is not far off from the usual mediocrity of the Guyanese batsmen.
Whether it be individual or a collective display of their skills, the young brigade of players need to offer as much support to the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Narsingh Deonarine, so that the team can be successful.
Good signs
the Guyana Jaguars
During the recent senior inter-county competition, Chandrika, Singh and Griffith showed improvement by constructing innings in mature fashion.
Fudadin continues to be a constant pick for the West Indies ‘A’ team, scoring a century in his last appearance against the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team while Johnson has managed to make his Test debut earlier this year after averaging more than 46 for the past three years. Once these young players exhibit the type of batting transformation needed for the team to be successful.
To a lesser extent the bowling department, which is usually spearheaded by discarded Test spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul, needs to be more penetrative. That means the lone pacer in the squad, the young and fiery Ronsford Beaton along with all-rounders Barnwell and Reifer will have to play major roles in restricting the opposition batsmen.
The Guyana Jaguars will open their campaign on Friday against the Leeward Islands at the Guyana National Stadium, ground Providence and the $64,000 question is “Will the youngsters take it upon themselves to bring the joy of success to their franchise and its supporters or will there be more bitter days ahead?”
The full squad reads; Leon Johnson (captain), Assad Fudadin (vice-captain), Rajendra Chandrika, Leon Johnson, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Raymond Reifer, Anthony Bramble (wk), Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Vishal Singh and Trevon Griffith. The coach is Esaun Crandon while Rayon Griffith will be his assistant.
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