The new year has now commenced, cricket season will begin once again. Players will continue to face the test of a lifetime as they fight to keep their form while others will fight for form with both bat and ball.
Ershaad Ali, who was recently awarded for his outstanding performances with bat and ball while representing the University of Guyana Cricket Team in the 2017/2018 season, continues to hold fast to his beliefs that in 2019 he would surpass his successful 2018.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Ali said, “If I am to compare my season last year as compared to the rest, I can say off the bat that it has been extremely
Ershaad Ali being awarded the cricketer of the year award
good.”
Ali, who is a left-handed middle-order batsman and right-arm leg-spinner has aided the team in many of their exploits as he has earned himself the reputation of being a consistent all-rounder. Ali made scores of 96 against the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), which has the likes of one of Guyana’s most destructive all-rounders in Christopher Barnwell and 59 against Transport. For the Second-Division Tournament, he made an impressive 49 in the semi-final of the New Building Society (NBS) 40-Over tournament against DCC. Despite losing, as of recent in the 2018-2019 season, Ali topped all his previous performances as he made a blistering 161 against Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) in another losing effort.
He explained, “Well, for me it’s training and having the right mindset to score big and confidence; well, when I bat I normally talk to myself, so that pays out for me. Bowling once again is training: hard hitting the right areas in practice and confidence again comes in as it is reflected for the season as I got two hundreds – highest being 161 against MYO lately, taking my tally to two centuries, four fifties , three five-wicket hauls and I got Cricketer of the Year for UG.”
In closing when asked about his coaches’ role in his game, Ali said, “He’s played a big role – always telling me to ‘keep training, build yourself to bat long, you have to be mentally and physically fit to make big scores’ and always supports me in anything I want to do.”(Timothy Jaikarran)
