-Team will not be complacent says Head Coach Hercules
The Guyana Harpy Eagles have received a significant boost ahead of today’s second-round clash against the Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) in the 2025 CWI Regional 4-Day Championship at the National Stadium, Providence.
The return of key senior players—Kevin Sinclair, Shamar Joseph and Tevin Imlach—from international duty has bolstered the defending champions as they seek to maintain their strong start to the tournament.
Head coach Ryan Hercules expressed his satisfaction with the reinforcements, emphasizing their value to the squad. Speaking to Stabroek Sport, he said, “Obviously, it’s a good thing when you have senior guys back from a West Indies series to join your campaign. We know the value they bring to the team—Sinclair, Shamar, and Imlach. It’s good that Shamar, coming back from injury now, is going to start off his first-class campaign. It’s a good sign for Guyana and West Indies, him back up and going into his cricketing ventures.”
The Harpy Eagles started their title defence with an impressive victory over Barbados, setting a strong foundation for the rest of the tournament. With two consecutive championship wins under their belt, the team is under added pressure to sustain their dominance. Hercules acknowledged the expectations but remains confident in his squad’s ability.
“It was part of our plan to make sure we get a win in the first round, so we could look to set the bar high,” he stated. “Obviously, defending the title two times now, it’s a lot on us, and it’ll continue to ask extra from us to make sure we try our best to retain that championship. It’s a good start”, he added.
While the return of experienced players strengthens the squad, the Harpy Eagles will be without promising young pacer Isai Thorne, who suffered a sprained ankle.
Hercules provided an update on his condition, saying, “He’s currently going to be doing work on his ankle with the physiotherapist over the next few days, and we’ll get an update in terms of how he is doing.”
Despite facing a CCC side that struggled in the opening round, Hercules is wary of complacency.
“We know CCC is one of the lesser teams. They didn’t get points, really, in the first round. So we’re going to make sure we play our competitive cricket. Don’t take anyone lightly, just do the right things and play hard cricket,” he affirmed.
With a mix of seasoned internationals and promising young talent, the Harpy Eagles remain focused on executing their game plan as they push for a third successive title.
