Fitness in focus as Jaguars prepare for Regional 4-Day

By Brandon Corlette

Guyana Jaguars are the most dominant force in Cricket West Indies’ (CWI’s) Regional 4-Day cricket, and five consecutive championship wins underline this claim; but after an ordinary showing at the recently concluded Regional Super50 Cup, Guyana Jaguars captain, Leon Johnson, has reflected on the team’s efforts while producing insights on the Jaguars’ preparation process for the upcoming 4-Day season.

“I think we had a very inconsistent season during the Super50 tournament. There were a lot of situations (in which) the game was close, and normally we play those situations a little better, (but) I think this year we didn’t play those situations well. That’s why we didn’t qualify for the semi-final,” Johnson told Guyana Times Sport in an exclusive interview.
Jaguars, recording four wins and four defeats in their Super50 campaign, suffered elimination at the hands of the United States of America.

The shining star of their tournament was the pugnacious right-handed batsman Christopher Barnwell, who led the Jaguars’ batting charts with 351 runs as he displayed consistency and in process recorded a high-score of 99*.
Apart from Barnwell’s brilliance, Jonathan Foo’s 334 runs was a big positive. This Albion-based batsman, who made a return to Jaguars colours, grabbed his opportunity with both hands.
Veteran bowler Veerasammy Permaul had 11 wickets, leading the charts in the Super50 Cup for Jaguars.
As the Regional Four-Day tournament looms, skipper Johnson has said the team had taken a week off after the Super50 competition, but has begun training.
“The weather has not been kind to us, but we have been doing some indoor training and physical work. We know the rigours of 4-Day cricket require optimum fitness, and we have been getting that in,” he said.
He disclosed that the team will play two practice matches before playing their first-round match on January 9 in Antigua.
“Hopefully, the weather can be better, so we could get out on the park and actually get some cricket (practice in),” the Guyana Jaguars captain highlighted.
Johnson described the young prospects in Guyana’s cricket as very good. Having played against Kevin Sinclair and Ashmead Nedd in the Super50 Cup, he declared that they had done exceptionally well for the West Indies Emerging Players to win the title.
“The tree for young cricketers is very good, and there are a lot of young players between the ages of 20 and 23 who have a bright future (in cricket). I think it’s up to them to grasp the opportunity when it comes to perform to get selection for Guyana and (cement) their places when selected. Our cupboard is not bare, and we have a lot of prospects in Guyana,” Johnson declared.
The projected and drafted players for Jaguars in the upcoming season are: Leon Johnson (captain), Anthony Bramble, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymon Reifer, Vishual Singh, Clinton Pestano, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Devandra Bishoo, Christopher Barnwell, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, Ramaal Lewis and Tevin Imlach.
Guyana Jaguars will play their opening round of the 4-Day tournament against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in Antigua on January 9. They will then play Barbados Pride on January 16. Jaguars will play their first home game on January 23 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.