Coach Esuan Crandon says he is steadfast about ensuring that Guyana secures the Regional first-class double.
Guyana, under the trinity-stewardship of Crandon, his assistant Rayon Griffith and skipper Leon Johnson, have dominated the Regional four-day circuit – winning successive titles – but they have failed to replicate that success in the 50 overs format where they been denied the one-day title in over a decade.
However, fresh off his stint with the Caribbean side, Crandon said he is keen on rechanneling his energies in aid of reversing Guyana’s one-day fortunes.
“I don’t have anything to prove… but the events that unfolded have me even more hungry for success as a coach; not only winning championships but I want to produce quality players to perform at the highest level…but I’m looking forward to capturing the double,” he said with a chuckle. A few months after he was appointed to the coaching staff of the West Indies men’s cricket team in January, Crandon along with a few others, were sacked from Windies’ coaching ranks following the election of Ricky Skerritt as Cricket West Indies’ new President.
Crandon told Stabroek Sport in a recent interview that he is looking forward to the challenges ahead in capturing the double.
“It something I’ve been working towards, achieving the four-day and the one-day title. We were in the final of the last one-day tournament [but lost to the Combined Campuses and Colleges] and I’m looking forward to the challenges this upcoming season.”
Crandon, who by now has earned the right to stand as one of the compelling figures around Guyana’s cricket on the sheer weight of his success with the South American franchise, is currently working towards his goal of Guyana taking a historic sixth, four-day title and his desire to end the one-day rot.
There have been no days off since returning to Guyana; the former first-class fast bowler disclosed that he currently engaging his troops in traditional and non- traditional work and revisiting the basics to build ‘well-rounded athletes.’
“Since being back as head coach, I’ve been trying to continue the good work… obviously, it’s the offseason for us and we have been building up in phases heading into the new season. At the moment our focus is on strength on conditioning work.
“We are also working on some classroom stuff on batting and on bowling…we are also planning some sessions to look at players dealing with the media…. It about utilizing this period to look at not only cricket specific stuff but also to see how we can impart the knowledge of how to be well rounded, professional athletes,” the coach declared.
The next major assignment will unfold this weekend when Guyana participates in a four-team T10 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago which should provide a gauge of where the team is currently at.
