Skipper of the Guyana Jaguars Leon Johnson has endorsed cricket’s newest format – T10 – the ten overs slug out which has emerged as a more concise and exciting dimension to the sport for fans and players alike.
“There is definitely a place for it; any game that is entertaining for the spectators will always have a place,” Johnson told Stabroek Sport following Guyana’s recent successful run in the just concluded four-team UDeCOTT T10 International Cricket Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
Guyana, in the final, took down a North Tobago side comprising the likes of Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine.
Johnson recounted the atmosphere from a captain’s viewpoint where his tactics on the game had to be spot on in a format which doesn’t give any room for respite.
“It was very exciting, it wasn’t easy defending against some of the batters but it was a very good experience and fun as well.
“We were excellent in the tournament, just had the one hiccup when we failed to chase what should have been an easy target of 92 but we had the two highest totals in the tournament bowled and fielded well in pressure situations.”
Meanwhile, Barnwell who recorded a match-winning knock of 44 in the finals to follow up his first round fifty to guide Guyana to the title explained that he is at a juncture of his career where it is all coming together.
During the past three months, Barnwell has been in tremendous form. He clobbered a T20 century in St. Maarten and 94 for his Trinidad club Comets leading up to his impressionable performances in the just-concluded T10.
He also picked up in last month’s CPL draft by the St. Lucia Stars.
“Since the birth of my daughter, I have become more focused and more positive in my approach. It is just about me playing to my strength and backing my ability along with hard work and determination to get back at the top,” the right-hander told Stabroek Sport.
Agreeing with Johnson that the T10 format has a place in the sport, Barnwell acknowledged that his upcoming stint with the Stars has provoked a desire to do well after missing out on the 2018 edition of the tournament.
St. Lucia, he recalled, is one of his favourite hunting grounds.
“Yea, I’m very excited about the CPL, after missing out last year… I’m very happy to be back. I’m also happy that I’m playing for a franchise that has a lot of great memories for me, played my first international match in St. Lucia, my first A team game doing well in Caribbean T20 where I end with the most runs, so I’m really excited.
The Demerara Cricket Club player noted that he is putting in the work to give himself “the best chance of performing.”
