Coach of the Guyana senior female cricket team, Bharat Mangru believes that the mixture of youth and experience will be crucial in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s Regional limited overs and T20 tournaments next month.
Speaking to Stabroek News as the team prepared for training at the National Stadium, Providence, and the coach said the players were in good spirits and the team was ready to begin the hunt.
“Well you know we have four Under-19 girls along with some women who played for the West Indies before in the side so the side has a perfect mixture of youth and experience,” Mangru said.
While the captain, Shemaine Campbelle and Shabika Gajnabi were not present at the training because of their involvement in the West Indies training camp, Mangru said that the players were gelling well and the tempo was good amongst the girls.
He pointed out the inclusion of newcomer, Cherry-Ann Fraser, who is tipped to make her debut was one to watch while Gajnabi and Mandy Mangru are key players in the side.
With the team losing four of their five rounds last year, the Level Three Coach is adamant that the players need to
apply themselves to batting as it was important to get runs.
The inclusion of Sheneta Grimmond after a two-year absence, is expected to boost the side’s chances and the big hitting of Erva Giddings and Tremayne Smartt can see the side setting good totals or chasing down targets.
According to Mangru, the team also looks good in the bowling department with the only worry being Kaysia Schultz who suffered an injury during the local competition last month but the team is hopeful her injury is healed in time for the Regional competition.
While the local competition was halted by rain, the team has been doing a lot of indoor training as they head into the tournament.
The team departs for Jamaica next week for the competition which runs from June 7-25.
The 14 players are: Shemaine Campbell (Captain), Sheneta Grimmond, Mandy Mangru, Shabika Gajnabi, Lashuna Toussaint, Melanie Henry, Tremayne Smartt, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Erva Giddings, Kaysia Shultz, Subrina Munroe, Akaze Thompson, Plaffiana Millington and Katana Mentore.
The stand- by players are: Heema Singh, Shenika Campbell, Latoya Smith, Dian Prahalad, Althea Newark and Casey Charles.
