Captain of the Guyana Jaguars cricket team, Leon Johnson, says that the team will need to adapt quickly and the batting needs to “click” if the side is to be successful in the upcoming CG Regional Super50.
Johnson, in an interview with this publication, stressed the importance of the batting department’s performance over the years and said that he believes there needs to be a more consistent approach if the side is to win its first Super50 title since 2005.
“I think our batting needs to be consistent and we need to make a conservative effort to click as they say in those big games, the semifinals and finals or games you need to win to qualify.
“I think we need to make an effort to come good, the batting needs to come good,” the out-of-favour West Indies batsman stated.
The left-hander however noted, “Our bowling has held its own over the years and I think the batting is where we fall short most times.”
Johnson, who finished with 147 runs from eight innings in the 2019 tournament, was cognizant of the downtime due to COVID-19 but believes the best was made under the circumstances.
“I didn’t get the time in the middle or the kind of scores I wanted in those practice games but not playing cricket for 10 months would have a toll on anyone’s form if you would say that. I mean we had a lot of practice sessions indoor and some outdoor in the nets but you know nothing is substitute for going out there and playing. Not playing for 10 months it was never going to be easy,” the captain explained.
He added that while the results did not sit well with him, he was confident in his maturity and experience that he can overcome that and push through.
The veteran of 75 List `A’ matches, reasoned that the preparation on a team level was also the best in the conditions owing to the fact that there was a setback in their plans.
The Georgetown Cricket Club batsman related, “I think the preparations were as good as they could be given the circumstances with COVID-19 and what’s not and we had a set back and we had to isolate for 14 days after Romario [Shepherd] tested positive that time so that kind of hampered our preparation. We had the practice matches scheduled before the announcement of the team and that wasn’t able to happen.”
Johnson is cognizant of the conditions differing from the conditions in Antigua.
“It’s definitely different from the conditions in Antigua and its important when we get to Antigua that we adapt and have an assessment of those conditions quickly and be able to play accordingly.”
With three practice matches done and dusted, the squad is in good spirits as it prepares to depart local shores.
Johnson says that he was happy with the inclusion of West Indies duo, Shimron Hetmyer and Shepherd but was aware changes was inevitable with Raymon Reifer and Veerasammy Permaul on West Indies duties.
“I think with the players who were available changes were inevitable and it’s good to have international players with the calibre of Hetmyer and Shepherd in the side as well, a few young guys have come into the side which is also a good sign, it’s always good to have a good blend of youth and experience so I think the squad is a good one on a whole,” he stated.
Johnson also spoke of the duration of the tournament.
“I don’t think it’s an advantage or disadvantage to anyone. If you look at it, you have to look at everything in a positive way. You know five games in a shortened tournament if we are able to play well from the start ,it would be easier to maintain that form compared to over a long period of time. So we just want to look at things in a positive way and play good, positive cricket because I think that is the only thing that is going to bring us success if we play positive and we come up with good plans and we execute to the best of our abilities,” Johnson ended.
