Royston Alkins
Guyana Jaguars captain Leon Johnson yesterday acknowledged that there is a bit of pressure on the team heading into next week’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Super50 Tournament having not crossed the boundary ropes as winners in regional one-day cricket in over a decade.
The skipper, however noted that the guys will be using that emotion as motivation to deliver the regional one day title to the fans and followers of Guyana’s cricket that have eluded the boys from South America for some time.
Guyana Jaguars, last won the tournament on home-soil, in 2005, at the Bourda cricket ground in fading light when Sewnarine Chattergoon scored a match winning century against Barbados, host of one zone of the two zone preliminary round.
Guyana’s men, who are on a mission, departed for the island of the flying fish this morning. They were placed in Zone B with tournament’s favorites Jamaica Scorpions and the Barbados Tridents while the Combined Colleges and Campuses Marooners and International Cricket Council (ICC) Americas team round out the zone.
Johnson, during an interview with Stabroek Sports, said that his men are full of confidence and are high in spirits, despite a bit of pressure, heading into the tournament.
“There is a bit of pressure. We have been doing well in the tournament over the last five seasons without winning the title and I think it’s time to reward the followers and fans of Guyana cricket with a regional one day title,” he declared.
Equally as important, Johnson pointed out that, was that there is need for the team to play as unit.
“I’m looking forward for the team to do well and in order for us to do that, we need to enjoy playing together, stick to our individual roles and pick-up the slack for each other, when need be.”
The skipper, who made his List `A’ debut in 2007, two years after Guyana last won the elusive One-Day title, has since chalked up forty-one (41) matches in the shorter format of the game and could use this tournament to further press his case for a One-Day call-up at the West Indies level.
Commenting on his personal goals for the tournament, the 29-year-old (29) said that he had not set a specific target.
“I just want to be consistent and put runs on the board and see my team over the line. My head is in the right place and that’s ideally what I need to score runs.”
Meanwhile, manager and assistant coach of the team, Rayon Griffith said that the team in free of injuries and niggles.
“There are no major issues, everyone pulled up well during the last practice session and that’s good for us.”
Both Johnson and Griffith contended that the pitches in Barbados possess a bit more bounce than what obtains in Guyana but said they expect the guys to adapt and use the conditions to their advantage.
“We talked about it (the bounce) during the practice session and cautioned our fast bowlers not to get too carried away but obviously adjust their lengths to suit the conditions,” added Johnson.
Griffith on the subject of the batsmen said:”The pitches in Barbados are not as venomous as before and I expect the guys who have been playing awhile now to adjust. They are capable of it.”
One of those batters Griffith may have been talking about, is Christopher Barnwell.
The Demerara Cricket Club all-rounder, who made his One-Day debut for Guyana during the 2008 season, is one of the team’s most brutal hitters and should find favour on the bouncier pitches in Barbados.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) and West Indies T20 player, likes the back-foot shots. He latches onto anything that is short and is one of Guyana’s most capable batters against fast bowling.
Barnwell, whose nickname is the ‘Bull’, expressed content with his preparation for the tournament.
“I’ve been playing well during the two practice matches, notching up a few starts and stroking the ball firmly during the nets session, so I’m feeling well.”
When asked what fans should expect, he remarked:“I’m looking to play a few match winning innings for my team which should help our cause in coming home as winners.”
Jaguars, who will journey out of the amazon today, will first look to make it into the semifinal by finishing in the top two in their group and then moving onto the final where they will aim to end their 12-year drought without one day title.
Old-timer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, is expected to soak up some of the pressure Johnson spoke about and help the Youngers like Shimron Hetmyer, who was only eight (8) years old when Guyana last won at this level, to experience success in the one-day format.
Jonathan Foo, who knows all about winning games for Guyana in pressure situations after he struck the winning runs to gift Guyana a T20 title in 2010, gets another opportunity at the senior level to display his tremendous hitting ability. Bajan all-rounder, Raymon Reifer and speedster Ronsford Beaton should also enjoy the conditions in Barbados, conditions, they are well suited to exploit fully.
The Jaguars squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice-Captain), Anthony Bramble, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Rajendra Chandrika, Steven Jacobs, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz, Jonathan Foo, Esuan Crandon (Head-coach), Rayon Griffith (Assistant- Coach), Ernesto Gonzalez (Physiotherapist).
