Newly adopted Guyana Jaguars fast-bowler Javon Searles, yesterday said he already feels like part of the team and is aiming to showcase his skillset ahead of the upcoming Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four Day season which begins in November.
Stabroek Sports caught up with the St James, Barbados-born cricketer during the Guyana Jaguars training session held at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda where the team continued their weekly pre-season training sessions with coaches Esuan Crandon, Rayon Griffith, Michael Hyles and Clive Grimmond.
Searles, during his exclusive with the newspaper, thanked the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the local Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) for giving him the chance to be a part of the team for this season. “First of all I just want to thank the GCB for giving me a chance to come and show my skills, I’m just looking to do the best that I can and take some wickets to help my team wherever they want me.”
The former West Indies Under-19 bowler, who will be accompanied by fellow Barbadian Ryan Hinds – who is due to arrive in Guyana later this week – as the two new overseas faces for the Jags this season, said he plans to learn what he can from the few guys in the side with whom he is already familiar.
His other countryman Raymon Reifer, who is now considered a full-fledged Guyana player will play an integral part in his transition.
“Raymon has been here since last year so any little points or so that he can give me to help I will take it onboard. I know a few of the Guyanese players from before coming up from Under 19 and playing in Trinidad as well, so I’m part of the team already.”
The right-arm seamer who represented the 2015 Hero CPL T20 Champions, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, said he will be seeking to play a significant role in the side, according to the instructions from his coach, adding he was already somewhat acclimatised to the conditions in Guyana after a good spell of bowling in the nets.
“Wherever the coach wants me, I’ll be there to do my best, (the environment) is pretty relaxed, I had a spell just now so I already know the conditions in Guyana are a bit low and slow, it’s more for spinners but it’s just for me to do what the captain wants at that point in time.”
Searles who has 26 First-Class wickets from nine matches at an average of 20.80 and one half-century, an unbeaten 56, will seek to establish himself as a key player in the side this season, joining Reifer, Chris Barnwell and Hinds as the pure all-rounders in the Guyana Jaguars team.
Meanwhile, head coach Crandon, during an invited comment said he was happy with the team’s pre-season progress thus far and stated the team will continue to train and fine-tune themselves ahead of their title defence as well as their quest to win the Regional Super 50 title.
