Plans for the Guyana Jaguars’ preparation ahead of the 2021 season have now been pushed back by one week.
Originally set for yesterday, Cricket Guyana Incorporated has now set January 16 at the Leonora Track and Field Facility at 06.00 hours for the fitness test while the dates for the three practice matches have also been shifted. This is according to an official release the frranchise issued yesterday.
Territorial Developmental Officer, Colin Stuart, indicated that weather was not the reason for the postponement.
He said that the decision was made internally and it was agreed upon that the fitness test and practice matches would be better suited for the time indicated.
The practice matches are scheduled for the La Bonne Intention Cricket Ground on January 18, 21 and 23. Those matches will be in the 50-over format and will bowl off from 09.00 hours each day.
This will begin the Guyana Jaguars preparation ahead of the Regional Super50 competition billed for Feburary and it is expected that over 30 players will participate in the two teams with Leon Johnson and Shimron Hetmyer leading the two sides.
No Super50 tournament was possible in 2020 due to the Novel Coronavirus pandemic which also forced the cancellation of the CGI Jaguars Franchise 50-over tournament that is usually used as the basis for selection.
In 2019, the Jaguars failed to make the semi-finals after reaching the final in the previous year. They have not won the tournament since 2005.
The 2019 season saw Christopher Barnwell finishing as the leading run getter with 351 runs at an average of 43.87. Jonathan Foo marked his return to the national side with 334 runs at an average of 55.66 and a strike rate of 113.22 while Chandrapaul Hemraj was the only batsman to score a century for Guyana and ended with 202 runs.
Left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul finished as the leading wicket taker for Guyana with 11 wickets while Ramaal Lewis and Raymon Reifer had 10 wickets each.
The Jaguars are likely to be without Permaul, Romario Shepherd and Reifer, all of whom will be with the West Indies teams on tour to Bangladesh.
On the other hand, Hetmyer and Keemo Paul should be available to boost the Jaguars squad. Also, Kevin Sinclair, who finished as the most economical bowler of the tournament playing for eventual tournament winners, West Indies Emerging Players is expected to feature.
Middle order batsman and potent left-arm spinner, Akshaya Persaud, like Sinclair had a successful tournament, turning out for Combined Colleges and Campuses Marooners. He scored two half centuries in five innings while taking four wickets at an economy rate of 5.28.
Hetmyer’s side: Chandrapaul Hemraj, Raymond Perez, Kevlon Anderson, Shimron Hetmyer (Captain), Sherfane Rutherford, Akshaya Persaud, Kemol Savory, Bhaskar Yadram, Kevin Sinclair, Demitri Cameron, Keon Joseph, Clinton Pestano, Anthony Adams, Vishaul Singh, Mavindra Dindyal, Steven Sankar, Sachin Singh and Ricardo Adams.
Johnson’s side: Trevon Griffith, Tevin Imlach, Leon Johnson (Captain), Jonathan Foo, Christopher Barnwell, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Quinton Sampson, Gudakesh Motie, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Devendra Bishoo, Andre Stoll, Totaram Bishun, Richie Looknauth and Kelvin Umroa.
