Adequate preparation key for Jaguars success

Head Coach Crandon happy with squad selected

The Guyana Jaguars are on the hunt for a fifth consecutive Regional 4-Day championship win; as the Leon Johnson-led team started the 2018-2019 season on a high, registering two victories in as many matches. Speaking to Guyana Times Sport, Guyana Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon emphasised the importance of the team’s preparation for the upcoming 4-Day matches. After the Christmas break, the Jaguars team has resumed their intense training sessions at the Everest Cricket Club ahead of the third round, which is scheduled for January 4, 2019.
Crandon told Guyana Times Sport in their first of three practice sessions before departure to Barbados on January 2, 2019, that the team had some time with their family and some additional time to reflect on their earlier matches. “The Barbados pitch will offer a bit of pace and bounce for the faster bowlers and the spinners will come into play,” related Crandon.
The Jaguar’s head coach further explained that the team will have to utilise their practice sessions in Guyana before their departure, since the team will have one day for a complete practice session in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Guyana Jaguars team has done well in Barbados over the past seasons and is confident of extending their dominance.
The Head Coach is delighted with the combination of the squad for the third round; with two all-rounders and one opening batsman being the latest addition to the squad. Sherfane Rutherford will play his 11th First Class match against the Barbados Pride and he will be aiming to make a smooth transition from the white ball formats, into the red-ball format. The 20-year old who has had a fantastic 2018 season, averages 35.40 with the bat, scoring two half centuries and picked up 23 First Class wickets, with his best bowling figures being 6-32. Rutherford will join the all-rounders in Christopher Barnwell, Clinton Pestano and Romario Shepherd who has all contributed with bat and ball in the first two rounds.
Meanwhile, Barbadian born Raymond Reifer will also be another useful asset to the Jaguars’ unit; having played 62 First Class matches, scoring one century and 12 fifties brings a wealth of experience to the squad. In addition to Reifer’s 2400 First Class runs he has 129 wickets bowling his left arm seam.
The 25-year-old Chanderpaul Hemraj has now evolved and is seen as the front-line Guyana Jaguar’s opener. Hemraj, who played ODI cricket for West Indies in 2018, played 19 First Class matches and is 70 runs away form 1000 First Class runs. The three additions are all players that played international cricket and the Guyana Jaguars Head Coach is happy with the squad selected, even though Keemo Paul, Shimron Hetmyer and Devandra Bishoo will miss out.
In the two rounds of the WICB Professional Cricket League Regional Four Day Tournament, Guyana Jaguars ahead with 37 points with their next opponent, Barbados Pride sitting in second place with 22.6 points.