Royston Alkins
The availability of a number of high-profile players for this year’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Super50 tournament has stirred up much hype.
This as much as anything has made the fans of West Indies cricket anxious about this year’s tournament.
Like their fans, the players from the Guyana Jaguars team will be anxious to do well and deliver the regional limited overs title to the followers and fans of Guyana’s cricket as promised by the skipper, Leon Johnson.
The team begins their quest for a Regional 50-overs title today at the Kensington Oval where they come up against a strong Barbados team in their own backyard. The much-anticipated encounter is set to begin at 13:30 local time and will feature some of the top players in the region as one of the most fiercely fought Regional limited overs battles over the years, is set to take centre stage.
There has been much talk about the pitch and the bounce that will be extracted and according to the Barbados Nation newspaper, “Kensington is ready. The Oval’s multimillion-dollar surface and outfield have been finally restored to pristine conditions in time for Tuesday’s (today’s) Regional Super50 and the upcoming international assignments.”
We would like to take the fans on a stroll down memory lane to remind them of what transpired in times gone by between these two teams. For starters, if any consolation can be taken, Jaguars defeated the Pride in their last encounter.
Since 1972-73 when a knock-out tournament took place among Barbados (the winners), Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the two teams went up against each other on 34 occasions with the boys from South America winning on 17 occasions and Barbados taking honours 15 times. They were two (2) no results. Barbados and Guyana have played against each other more than any other two teams in the history of Regional 50-overs encounters.
The battles have always been fascinating to watch, just as it was on the last occasion when the two teams met and Guyana recorded one of their 17 wins over the boys in blue.
The last encounter
It was two years ago in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad when ironically, Bajan all-rounder Raymond Reifer, spared Guyana Jaguars blushes with an unbeaten 84 to rescue the Jaguars and lead them to a two-wicket win. The rain-affected game was reduced to a 36 overs-per-side encounter which saw Guyana chasing down 169 after being reduced to 77 for 7 at one point.
Fast bowler Javon Searles and spinner Ryan Hinds were the chief wicket takers for the Barbados Pride when the two sides last met. Barbados, earlier on that day (17 January 2015) was led by a defiant 73 from opener Kraigg Braithwaite. Devendra Bishoo, Royston Crandon and Christopher Barnwell all had one wicket apiece in that battle.
Looking at today’s meeting, Guyana will be aiming to maintain their edge over the Pride by winning and setting the tone for the rest of the tournament. On that note, Stabroek Sports sought the wisdom from two former players on what is needed to be done in order for Johnson’s men to come out on top of today’s encounter.
Former West Indies and Guyana Batsman, Keith Semple, believes that the batters are well equipped to deal the conditions.
“I think most of the batters in the Guyana’s lineup have a fair bit of experience playing international cricket so shouldn’t find it too difficult to make the adjustments to the bouncier pitches in Barbados,” said Semple.
“Batting is generally easier once you get yourself in on those pitches, since the ball comes on to the bat much better and the bounce is true, so it’s just a matter of getting themselves in, understanding their strengths and playing to them. Having someone like Shiv Chanderpaul around is also a blessing for the batters and his vast experience is something they can try to learn from,” he added.
When asked about Guyana’s chances, the right-hander who played seven ODI’s for the West Indies said: “Guyana has been one of the better teams in the region for the past few years and the team has a lot of players with International experience so I think their chances of winning is very good. I think their biggest challenge will come from Barbados, especially with them playing at home.”
Meanwhile, Reyon King, in his counsel to the bowlers, said that over the years Guyana has not been too dependent on fast bowling and he doesn’t see that changing. “I’m not discarding the fast bowlers but Guyana will be heavily dependent on their spinners. The only out and out pacer in the team in Beaton (Ronsford).”
Asked how the bowers should bowl on the wicket, King, a member of the Guyana team that last won the limited overs tournament, said that the bowlers shouldn’t get too carried away. “Play the wicket from what it offers, what you don’t want to do is expect it to play a certain way and then do something different. Like the batters, they’ll have to take it one ball at a time.”
King also believes that like Guyana, and the other teams making up the ‘big’ four (Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago) all have good chances. He also pointed out that the Leewards Island Hurricanes has a good chance because of the makeup of this year’s team.
