Known as the Cinderella County, Essequibo has produced a number of talented players that have graced the cricket field. The latest rising star is Kemol Savory, the `Prince Charming’ of the Cinderella County.
Born at Woodlands Hospital in Georgetown on August 27, 1996 to Wendy and Joseph Savory, Kemol spent the first phase of his life at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Demerara, where he attended the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School.
It is there that he got introduced to the gentleman’s game at the tender age of 10 years.
Through the Scotiabank Kiddies Cricket programme, the young wicketkeeper/batsman played his first hard-ball match in Leguan representing East Bank Under-15 versus the hosts.
In that match the left-hander went on to score his first ever half-century.
It was through that match that he earned a place in the Essequibo Under-15 side for the Guyana Cricket Board’s Inter-County tournament and he eventually went on to play for the Guyana Under-15 side.
It was at the Demerara Cricket Club, Coach Garvin Nedd spotted the talent of Savory and worked overtime with him to enhance his skills behind the stumps.
Savory went on to then play for Guyana at the Under-17 and Under-19 levels, notably being the double (three-day and 50-over titles in the same year) in 2015 and 2017.
Savory subsequently moved to Tuschen Housing Scheme and completed his secondary education at Stewartville Secondary.
The pugnacious Essequibian, who represents Rising Stars on the Essequibo Coast, quickly became the County’s top wicketkeeper/batsman while representing them in the Guyana Cricket Board Franchise League where they won the three-day format. In that tournament, he scored 334 runs with a best of 138 along with 20 dismissals.
Meanwhile in the country’s 50-over franchise in 2017, he claimed 14 dismissals and solidified himself as one of the better `keepers in the tournament.
The following year Essequibo won the 50-over franchise title and Savory finished as the second most prolific batsman and best wicketkeeper for the second year. That earned him a spot as a reserve for the Guyana Jaguars side (now Guyana Harpy Eagles).
In 2019, Savory would finish as the Most Valuable Player in the 50-over franchise league with 18 dismissals and 336 runs which came at an average of 48. This ensured him the green light for the Guyana senior side.
His knack for making his mark on debut continued with an impressive 71 not out on debut during the Regional Super-50, earning himself the Man-of-the-Match award and victory for Guyana. When regional cricket resumed in 2021, Savory, who represents Police Sports Club in the Georgetown Cricket Association competitions, was called up to the side as a replacement while in 2022, he played three matches for the national side in the one day competition, with a best score of 69.
Now, after finishing the Harpy Eagles practice matches with the most runs (210) in two matches as well as hitting the lone century (170), he has earned his maiden call-up to the four-day side.
“It is exhilarating to get selected to the Harpy Eagles this has been one of my early goals and to reach there is beyond what words can express,” he told this publication.
The father of one said family is near and dear to his heart and keeps him motivated daily. He expressed, “My motivation is my family, my wife, who sacrificed a lot to support me in my quest to be selected to the national team and my son, whom I want to set the example that with hard work and dedication you can accomplish your goals.”
The wicketkeeper has moved through the ranks with a core group of friends both on and off the field including Antony Adams, Ronsford Beaton, Kevon Boodie and Keemo Paul all cricketers. Savory reckons his greatest challenge will be to keep bettering himself and to maintain a high fitness standard especially when in Guyana since most of the year is not conducive to outdoor training.
He reasoned that while being selected was one of his main goals, the challenge remains to maintain it by improving his fitness, batting longer and bettering his overall game.
“Getting there takes hard work but staying there is where we have to work our hardest. I’m one step closer to fulfilling my dream of representing West Indies at Test cricket,” he related.
Savory recently copped the Essequibo Cricket Board’s player of the year award.
