Over two dozen cricketers took to the National Synthetic Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara to begin the Guyana Jaguars’ 2021 preparation yesterday.
According to Jaguars’ head coach, Esuan Crandon the players gave a good account of themselves. Missing were West Indies trio, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd who were exempted for various reasons.
Crandon explained, “We had a good layoff during the break, you know Covid-19 didn’t allow us to have the usual training that we would have liked to but it is good to get the guys out here and assess their fitness.”
The former Guyana pacer noted that he was impressed by the amount of players that turned out while commending them for their efforts in spite of everything that has happened last year.
“I thought it was encouraging to see the numbers today, that shows they have been doing their work, as you know we have 15 contracted players, obviously those guys were under my watch and control and under the guidance of fitness trainer, Neil Barry Jr, who would have produced the training programme for these guys,” he stated.
The 39-year-old highlighted, “I think it is a good stepping stone for us, I would say I am satisfied with what I saw here today and it’s only going to get better for us as we go along, obviously everybody will not be where we want them to be but at least we know where they are and the necessary work to get them to an acceptable level of fitness.”
Looking at the outstanding performers, Crandon reckoned Tevin Imlach was at the top of the list, clocking in 60 in the yo-yo test (a 20 metre timed sprint challenge).
“Tevin Imlach has been outstanding over the years and he continues to do so, I think, (I stand) to be corrected, this is the first time this group has touched the 60 mark, that’s outstanding, I think his previous best was 57 so it goes to show he is doing the work and he is hungry, you find guys satisfied with the pass mark of just 40 but when you find guys doing 57 and he is more eager to do better that tells the story of the individual and that’s good for me and good for the franchise as well,” he stated.
Crandon added, “We have some regular names that would have been around, [Kevin] Sinclair, [Kevlon] Anderson, [Leon] Johnson, Trevon Griffith, those guys, Nial Smith has been impressive, he had the best time for the two-kilometre run so that’s been good, when he first came to now you would see the difference and his improvement in his fitness.”
Also, the head coach was impressed with the performances of newbies, Mavindra Dindyal who represented the West Indies Under-15 twice and Port Mourant pacer, Demitri Cameron.
“Dindyal and Cameron they did well, they passed the pass mark and it’s good to see two newcomers for the first time, they would have obviously done some work and it’s a good stepping stone, obviously those guys are our future players, young upcoming players so this would give me an idea if these guys are selected in the academy programme I would have this prior level of their fitness,” he said.
Jaguars will now turn their focus to their practice matches ahead of the Regional Super50. The first match is set for La Bonne Intention on Monday.
