Guyana Jaguars head coach Johan Botha has thrown his support behind explosive all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford backing him to come good in the 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Botha, in a recent interview with this publication, praised the team for its consistency and passion to win while indicating that it was the family oriented nature of the side as well as the desire by the younger players to succeed that made them a force to reckon with.
When asked about the player who he thinks will take the CPL by storm this season Botha thought hard before stating, “I think Sherfane.”
The former South African showstopper related that the 22-year-old Guyanese has shown already that he has buckled down and is ready.
“[He] has really put in the work, in terms of fitness and change in body shape, he looks a whole lot fitter. I think asking him he has lost 10-15kg so he is in the best shape he has ever been,” Botha declared.
In the past Rutherford had come under scrutiny for his fitness, having failed the Cricket West Indies fitness test but has made a turnaround in that department.
“I think watching him train, watching him around the group I think he has realized he has now become one of the more senior guys in the group even though he only turned 22.”
According to the head coach, Rutherford has indicated his ambition to win more matches for the five-time finalists. Botha believes that because of Rutherford’s mental preparation and effort to do private work, he is a front runner to dominate in the competition.
“He feels he is part of the team and he said on his one-on-one he wants to win more games for us so I think mentally, he comes in the lead for me, as ready as can be.
“With the limited work available for the guys, even paid a personal trainer over the last couple of months and all those things add up so now it’s just to put that away, get a few scores and settle into the tournament and if he can get that I think he is going to be one of our key players for the tournament,” Botha explained.
With bat in hand, the left-hander boasts an impressive strike rate of 140 in the format. He has also proven to be an effective wicket taker who can come in at difficult times and inflict a breakthrough with his medium pace bowling.
