Former national youth pacer Andre Stoll was surprisingly left out of the Demerara senior inter-county squad when the county board yesterday named its team to participate in the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior inter-county competition.
The 23-year-old left arm fast bowler was left out of a 14-member Demerara squad in favour of fellow pacers, Paul Wintz and Gavin Moriah, an emerging left-arm pacer. The Demerara Cricket Club player was out of local cricket for several months at the latter part of 2014, but had since made his return to domestic cricket for his club in Georgetown Cricket Association’s tournament early this year.
In the latest matches for his club, Stoll had been bowling with lots of aggression and accuracy, causing trouble for the opposition batsmen. At his best Stoll is rated among the top fast bowlers in local cricket, however, to date he continues to have difficulties with selection.
Attempts to reach Stoll and the Demerara selectors proved futile. However, a source close to Stoll informed this newspaper that he was overseas for personal reasons during his absence from local cricket late last year, but remained actively involved in competitive cricket.
Meanwhile, sources close to the selectors said Moriah got the nod ahead of Stoll because he is young and possesses the talent to become a bright prospect. “It will be his second successive stint with the Demerara side, after representing them last year in the GCB tournament, where he pick up a wicket in two overs against the Guyana U-19 select team,” sources said.
Moriah is just 18 years old and represents Enmore Cricket Club and the University of Guyana at the club level for East Coast and Georgetown tournaments, respectively. He also represented Demerara last year at the GCB U-19 inter-county tournament, but missed this year’s tournament due to injury.
Stoll’s omission can return to haunt the selectors, as the Demerara bowling department lacks experience. Wintz, who also has several years’ experience is expected to spearhead the attack while the remainder of the bowling will be shared among all-rounders Steven Jacobs, Christopher Barnwell, left arm-spinner Raj Nanan, Moriah and newcomer Steven Sankar.
During the tournament, Demerara will compete against a seasoned Berbice team, a talented Essequibo squad and a national select side comprising several national U-19 players and some players who failed to make their respective county teams.
The Demerara team reads: Leon Johnson, Vishal Singh, Rajendra Chandrika, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Joseph Perry, Steven Jacobs, Raj Nanan, Steven Sankar, Paul Wintz, Gavin Moriah, Shemroy Barrington and Trevon Griffith.
