Green’s “local knowledge” to boost Desert Vipers at ExxonMobil GSL

All-rounder Chris Green believes his local knowledge could be a huge advantage for the Desert Vipers in this year’s ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL).
The off-spinning all-rounder, who has been appointed Vipers Captain for the tournament, has eight years of playing experience in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) – including three years with the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium, the home of the GSL in July and August.
Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, Green offered his thoughts on the conditions expected when he said, “I think New Zealand are playing five one-day games there before us against the West Indies, so I think it will be a very used square, typically dry. For night games [at Providence], they become toss-dependent. It is important to bowl first and bowl well, and then typically the dew comes in, and it becomes somewhat easier to bat [in those conditions; with less swing and a damp ball that becomes hard for the spin bowlers to grip].” he said
“Spin plays a huge part of the game, particularly through the middle overs. For the stats people out there, you look at overs seven to 14 or 15 in the Caribbean T20 tournaments and domestic cricket, and it is usually when the game comes to a standstill and spinners take over. The power play and backend (of the inning), because of the power they (West Indies players) possess and the attacking nature of the game, are where the huge spikes in run rate come with boundaries and sixes.
“Every now and again there are those 220-240 run wickets there (in Guyana). For day games it is hot, and the conditions are very sweaty. I am hoping there is no rain, we get uninterrupted cricket and we can entertain the crowds that are there and the fans following along from afar as well.”
And what about swing for the faster bowlers? Green said it was always a possibility given conditions in Guyana, whether matches were played during the day or at night.
“Even in the day, because of the humidity in the Caribbean (the new ball tends to swing, in my experience),” he said.
“Even as an off-spinner, a lot of my arm balls move a lot more in the air. It happens during the day and particularly during the night – the pendulum does definitely swing.
“Having Jason Behrendorff and Ramon Simmonds, those two left-handers who utilise it (swing), plus a number of others will be a huge, huge help for us to impact the game at different stages.
“So, hopefully it swings, hopefully it spins, and hopefully balls get whacked out of the park (by us) as well.”
Green added that having the trio of swing and seam bowlers from the UAE, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Sanjay Pahal and Matiullah Khan, could prove to be highly effective in the GSL.
“That trio of local (UAE) players are guys that I have not come across yet or played with or against, and that is something that I am really looking forward to,” Green said.
“One of the huge positives of playing global T20 tournaments is you get to meet so many different people with so many diverse backgrounds and stories. Everyone has their (own) individual story of how they got there, why they are there and what they are playing for.
“Those guys are playing some great cricket that I have been following through socials and cricket websites. I am really excited to see their skill sets up close and personal, and hopefully they can impact the game like they have been doing for the Vipers over the last season.”
And what about the team’s prospects in what promises to be a cut-throat tournament also featuring the hosts and defending champions the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Lahore Qalanders from the Pakistan Super League, the Perth Scorchers from Australia’s Big Bash League and the San Francisco Unicorns from Major League Cricket in the United States of America?
“I think (we should be) incredibly optimistic,” Green said. “Looking at our squad, I think we have got a really good, balanced group.
“You look at our top-order batters and power batters at the top and in the middle order and what they can do. I think we have got a good group of middle-order and lower-order players that can navigate spin and hit and get us to big and formidable totals, whatever they may be. In Guyana, that could be 120, it could be 180, or it could be 200-plus.
“And then I think we have got a really good mix of fast bowlers, skilful bowlers, and obviously spin bowlers that complement each other well. So (in one sense) my job is going to be very difficult trying to figure out who is best to use at different times. And Head Coach Azhar Mahmood and I and the management have probably got a really tough job to pick our best 11 as well.
“But you need that competition for spots. So, I think anytime that is in the scenario, then there is an excitement about it. And I think also looking through that list, we have got good people as well.
“So, hopefully you will see us playing with smiles on our faces and hopefully see us winning more games than not. And that means you will hopefully see us in a final at the end of it with a crack at winning another trophy for the Vipers, because that is the ultimate goal.”
The Desert Vipers team reads: Captain Chris Green (AUS), Jason Behrendorff (AUS), Daryl Mitchell (NZ), Bevon Jacobs (NZ), Shadab Khan (PAK), Vriitya Aravind (UAE), Khuzaima Bin Tanveer (UAE), Matiullah Khan (UAE), Sanjay Pahal (UAE), Andries Gous (USA), Kyle Mayers (WI), Khary Pierre (WI), Ramon Simmonds (WI) and Zachary Carter (WI).