Former West Indies U19 skipper Shimron Hetmeyer is the lone newcomer on the Guyana national cricket team which will contest the West Indies Cricket Board’s Super50 One-day tournament which bowls off later this month.
Hetmeyer, who missed last year’s tournament whilst leading the West Indies team to the U19 One-Day World Cup title, is one of three opening batsmen in the side, the others being Assad Fudadin and Rajindra Chandrika.
Earning a recall to the One-day side is Jonathan Foo whose omission last year sparked a bit of controversy while West Indies `A’ team batsman Vishaul `Cheesy’ Singh, who opened the batting last year, has been omitted.
Four other players, Romario Shepherd, Kevon Boodie, Royston Crandon and Gudakesh Moti, have also been omitted.
As expected, the team will be led by Leon Johnson with Veerasammy Permaul as his deputy.
Chairman of the national cricket selectors Rayon Griffith last evening told Stabroek Sports that he felt the squad chosen was a balanced one.
“The squad is a balanced one with three openers, three middle-order batters, a wicket-keeper who could bat as well and three all-rounders,” Griffith told Stabroek Sports.
The squad was selected despite the fact that the CGI 50 overs tournament was not played nor was there any trial matches compliments of the inclement weather and Griffith, asked if choosing the players was a challenge said not although he admitted that this was not the ideal way to select the squad.
“It wasn’t a bit of a challenge. I know much cricket wasn’t played especially the 50-over format but when you look at the squad, it comprises players who have been playing for Guyana for many years and they have the experience.
“If there were trial matches that would have been better because everybody would have had a fair opportunity,” he added.
Asked if those players who missed out on selection might feel a bit peeved Griffith answered in the affirmative.
“Definitely! Some of the players might be peeved. It would have been better for them to have had that opportunity so that they would have felt comfortable in the end,” he said.
One of the players who might rue his non selection is Gudakesh Moti who had one of the better economy rates for bowlers last year but the return of test spinner Devendra Bishoo meant that there was simply no place for him.
While the Guyana national senior team has had a lot of success in the Regional Four-day tournament where there are the defending champions, the last time the national 50-over team won the regional One-day tournament was in 2005 but Griffith feels that this year’s team could win the tournament after losing to eventual winners the Trinidad red Force in the semi-finals of last year’s tournament.
“They do have a chance but they will have to play good cricket. The team is a good one compared to last year’s team but at the end of the day it is how the team plays.
“We look back at areas we need to improve and started preparation last week. The team’s preparation will cover a three-week period.
In terms of preparation, we did not get an opportunity to play 50-overs cricket but I don’t think we will need to more preparation going into this tournament because most of the players just had a break for the four-dayers,” he said.
Last year wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble was thrust into the opening position but Griffith said with three openers in the squad this time around there will be no need for such experiments.
Griffith said last year was a different situation.
“I think last year, (Rajindra) Chandrika was in Australia and Hetmeyer was with the West Indies U19 team,” he explained.
“We have three openers and we want the players to understand their roles so they will have the full opportunity to make the most of their chances with West Indies team selections in mind,” said Griffith.
According to the national chairman, they players are scheduled to continue sessions on Monday at the National Stadium from 10am.
He explained that this will be the norm for the next two weeks but pointed out that Trial matches are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday at the Providence National Stadium, weather permitting.
his year’s tournament will be played in two groups with each team playing eight instead of six matches like last year, a move Griffith feels is a good one.
He disclosed that the team will depart Guyana on January 21 for Barbados. They will play the hosts in their first game on January 24.
- Leon Johnson (Captain)
- Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-Captain)
- Anthony Bramble (Wkp)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Shivnarine Chanderpaul
- Christopher Barnwell
- Raymon Reifer
- Rajendra Chandrika
- Steven Jacobs
- Assad Fudadin
- Devendra Bishoo
- Ronsford Beaton
- Paul Wintz
- Jonathan Foo
The Management Staff is Esaun Crandon (Head-coach), Rayon Griffith (Assistant- Coach) and Ernesto Gonzalez (Physiotherapist).
