The Guyana Jaguars yesterday named the squad for their fourth round West Indies Championship clash against Jamaica Scorpions which begins today at the Providence National Stadium and excluded out-of-favour West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer.
Hetmyer was recently left out of the West Indies side for their series against Sri Lanka due to fitness but despite calls from cricket enthusiasts for him to build back up his reputation in order to get back in the side, the 23-year-old was not listed in the 13-man squad.
On Tuesday veteran cricket commentator Joseph `Reds’ Perreira said that the left-handed Guyanese batting maestro should use the Regional season to score heavily ahead of his expected recall to the West Indies side. Today’s match bowls off at 09.30 hours and the table leaders have made one change, Raymon Reifer returning in place of Ronaldo Alimohamed.
The bottom-of-the-table Scorpions, the only team yet to secure a win so far, will be without Rovman Powell and Brandon King due to West Indies duties.
Peat Salmon and Oraine Williams are the replacements.
Speaking to this publication on the eve of the contest at the venue, Reifer, who suffered a concussion in the second round and missed his side’s third match stated, “I’m pretty much happy to be back and I’m happy to be in good health and stuff so it’s a plus.”
Reifer, 28, posited that his side does not need to change much in order to continue their dominance and beat the Scorpions.
“I don’t think we need to change a lot in order to get that edge over Scorpions. We just need to continue playing that good brand of cricket that we have been playing and the result will take care of itself,” he said.
Meanwhile, Guyana-born Scorpion player, Assad Fudadin, called on his side to express patience and execute better in all departments.
“I would say [we need to execute better in] batting, bowling and fielding, have a bit more patience… I think we will stand a better chance if we are a bit more patient in whatever we do and a bit more thoughtful in whatever we try to execute,” the 34-year-old batsman reckoned. While he said the loss of King and Powell, was a big blow, Fudadin pointed out that their replacements are both capable of doing the job.
“That’s why they have been picked and we have full confidence in them,” he declared.
Looking at his side’s performance so far in the tournament, the left-hander opined, “I’m not going to say things haven’t gone well, we had two good games, we have been playing very good cricket and it’s just we have to string some wins now.”
Guyana Jagaurs squad: Leon Johnson (captain), Anthony Bramble, Vishaul Singh, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chadrapaul Hemraj, Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Tevin Imlach, Keon Joseph, Nial Smith.
Jamaica Scorpions squad: John Campbell (captain), Assad Fudadin, Jermaine Blackwood, Paul Palmer, Nkrumah Bonner, Denis Smith, Peat Salmon, Derval Green, Marquino Mindley, Nicholson Gordon, Patrick Harty, Jamie Merchant, Oraine Williams.
