Camaraderie the recipe to Essequibo’s success-Hercules

Coach of the Essequibo Franchise, Ryan Hercules said his team’s success in this year’s Guyana Cricket Board’s Jaguars Franchise League tournaments apart from talent was due to the family-like bond his players developed over the course of the competition.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport on Saturday, Hercules a former national player said Essequibo’s rampant mood this season had numerous factors behind it, some of which ranges from the team’s burning desires to abolish their woes of the past, to the current unbeaten form which has seen them progress through seven rounds unbeaten.
“The 50 Overs weren’t much different from the 3-days, it’s just a different format of cricket and we had to go out and play. We had a lot of discussions leading up to the 50 over as we discussed our strategies because it’s a shorter version, but we have the same team as we had in the 3-day and the guys made a good transformation and that shows the level of professionalism in the side,” said Hercules.

Playing an unchanged team from the 3-Day League which they won, Essequibo have been the most consistent team with the most consistent performers and their coach exalted his players for their hunger.
“I said to the selectors that we have young players and they need to understand their roles. I keep mentioning that to them, because they can’t play any format they just need to know what to do when they get out there,” Hercules stated.
Hercules also credited Shivnarine Chanderpaul for coming into the team despite them being on top, saying “Words cannot explain” the presence of the 43 year-old veteran in the team. He said the ex-West Indies skipper gave great advice to the players and it was him being there which helped turn up the heat.
Speaking about skipper and left-arm spinner Anthony Adams who was the leading wicket-taker in the 3-Days and is now the leading wicket-taker in the 50 overs, the Coach admitted the spinner is one of a kind.
“Anthony is one of the players who go the extra mile, you will find him at four in the morning working out before a game. He’s very focused and dedicated and I keep encouraging him because he does not get disappointed and he always aims to do much better.”
With Essequibo already in the finals, awaiting the outcome between Lower Corentyne and either West Berbice or Georgetown, whichever advances out of next Thursday’s play-off clash, Hercules said it was important for them to keep their momentum heading into the finals on December 30.
“We used to be knocked out first or second round in the past and now we are 3-day champs and we are unbeaten in the 50 Overs after seven rounds. We haven’t lost four wickets in the tournament and Keemo Paul hasn’t batted and if Shiv comes back we will have another top batsman, so it will be a very entertaining finals” he ended.