Raymon Reifer, the Guyana Jaguars all-rounder believes that the duo of Barbadians Ryan Hinds and Javon Searles will bring a lot to the local franchise this season as they prepare to defend the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four Day title.
Reifer who is also a Bajan, was drafted last season by the local Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) franchise as Guyana’s first overseas player after the WICB had stipulated that territories were allowed to select one player from across the Caribbean.
However, this season territories were allowed to select up to two overseas players, resulting in Hinds and Searles being acquired for the 2015/16 senior season. Reifer who is familiar with both players, believes that the pair will indeed bring a lot to the Jaguars camp.
“I think it’s a good thing, we lost one player in Narsingh Deonarine but we have two other guys coming over willing to play cricket. Hinds is a proven First-Class player with the record for the most runs in Barbados. Searles, much people don’t know him but he has lots of skills with the ball, he’s a good fielder and he has lots to offer with the bat so I think it’s a good opportunity for him to get in good performances and let people know who he is”.
The 24 year-old who was once in the shoes of his fellow countrymen with regards to having to relocate and readjust to a new life and career here in Guyana said that he expects his countrymen to slot in with ease due to their experience of playing cricket around the world.
“I’m pretty sure those guys will come straight and slot in but if I can help them I will, those guys are professional lot more than me”, Reifer humorously added.
Switching to his personal aim for this season, the left-arm seamer admitted that while his first year was good, he is working harder on building on the foundation he has already laid, adding that the recently concluded Hero CPL also did a lot to help not only his 50-over career but his four-day as well.
“I’ve been training a lot harder to get my fitness level up to perform at my maximum, because I’m looking to build on last year, getting more consistent and perform to the best of my ability so I can give my team 110 percent”. “CPL helped to boost my all-round game, even four-day cricket. Eric Simon (St Kitts Patriots head coach) has a lot of experience he’s a good coach, he taught me to do the basics and I still keep in contact with him”.
The Jags who retained the Regional four day title after nearly more than a decade, also came close to winning the Regional Super 50 title in the finals and Reifer believes that his side is more than capable of winning this season.
“I think it’s the same thing from last year, everyone understands their roles now so we have a lot of confidence heading into this year. Definitely I think we are the only franchise who started to train and getting in the fitness session so I think we are on top of the ball and I give credit to CGI because they helped us to get accustomed to the environment”, said Reifer.
“50 overs you only have 3 or 4 games so you have to hit the ground running. Last year we came close but at the end of the game we lost. It’s a positive from the last year, because in 50 overs people will be coming at you so we have to play the cricket we know how to play because at the end of the day you have to play consistent cricket because there is no room for catch up cricket”.
The former Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) all-rounder also thanked coaches Esuan Crandon and Rayon Griffith for their hard work and dedication with the players, on and off season.
“All the other teams took breaks but we are the only team who trained consistently and had proper net sessions because of them, so I think that’s something any young cricket in Guyana has to be thankful for”, he said.
