Twenty-two-year-old off-spinner, Ramaal Lewis, has been drafted into the Guyana Jaguars squad for its r showdown against Barbados Pride in the penultimate round of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Four-Day tournament which begins today at the National Stadium, Providence.
Leon Johnson, Jaguars captain, confirmed that the Jamaican was the only change in the must-win match for the defending champions.
Lewis, who has played just one first class match for Jamaica Scorpions against Pride back in 2015. However, the young spinner has been a mainstay in the Jaguars 50-overs side. He replaces Clinton Pestano who has suffered an injury to his leg.
Johnson said yesterday that: “Ramaal had done well in the One-Day series and has been looking good during practice,” adding that he is another option with the seamers and two left-arm spinners.
“Every game you play at this level is important and despite being at the top of the table we can’t afford anymore slip ups with teams closely behind,” the 31-year-old Johnson said.
Jaguars are 117.2 points with Leeward Island Hurricanes and Pride on 93.4 and 90 points respectively.
Coming off a loss to Scorpions inside two days Johnson said the batsmen needed to apply themselves.
“There was not a lot of application. The guys had a chance to express themselves but we didn’t apply ourselves.
“However, they are good enough to come and put on a good show with the bat.”
Also commenting on their last match, Head Coach Rayon Griffith said:”We are coming off a defeat but the mood is just about picking ourselves up and coming good in this game.”
“The condition got the better of us in Jamaica.We didn’t play them well but we didn’t put our heads down and bat. However, now coming home it is time to utilize it.”
The level three coach also believes the game is a must win contest and pointed out his satisfaction with the training session yesterday.
The last time these two sides met in Barbados, Chandrapaul Hemraj (144) and Anthony Bramble (130 not out) stroked centuries while Veerasammy Permaul picked up eight wickets in the match.
