Guyana 4-Day review: A season of mixed fortunes for Harpy Eagles

By Brandon Corlette in Trinidad

From Guyana Jaguars to Guyana Harpy Eagles. A new Guyana Cricket Board came, a name change came, but the title still evades Guyana. This season was one split in two, literally.
Guyana played Windward Islands and Leeward Islands in their opening games of the West Indies Regional Four-Day championships, and the team looked rusty. Despite a new name and new uniform (whites), an official team photo was not captured after two rounds, until the third round was played and the Guyanese media came.
At the end of the season, Guyana finished third, with 61.8 points, recording two wins, one defeat, and two draws.
The tournament paused for the West Indies versus England Test series, and restarted in May. Upon restart, the Guyana Harpy Eagles looked a more focused unit, and the batsmen have endured the pressure and scored runs…well not all of them.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul finished as the leading run-scorer for the Guyanese and the second leading batsman of the season. The cub, who has shown his transformation into a Tiger, scored 439 runs at 73.16. He slammed two centuries and faced 1099 balls. He recorded a high score of 184. That innings was a follow-up to his unbeaten 140 and match-winning cameo of 23.
Keemo Paul was also a star for the Guyanese. He claimed 20 wickets while Mr Consistent, Veerasammy Permaul had 19 wickets. Gudakesh Motie came and claimed 17 wickets, and he also slammed his maiden First-Class century, signalling to the West Indies selectors his all-round ability, in scorching fashion. In addition to Motie’s 17 wickets, he scored 225 runs with the bat, with a strike-rate of 93.36.
Vishaul Singh was also impressive with the bat scoring 262 runs at an average of 52. While many cricket enthusiasts were calling for young players to step up, not many did. With the exception of Tevin Imlach, who is young and fairly new to First-Class cricket: the fit wicketkeeper-batsman scored 215 runs in four innings, recording three fifties.
Imlach showcased the ability to keep wicket as well as bat at number three, and he opened the batting once, when Anthony Bramble sat out owing to injury. Imlach finished the season with an average of 53.75 and a high score of 79.
In the case of Akshaya Persaud, he had a miserable season. He scored only 24 runs in four innings, less than the bowlers and all-rounders: Nial Smith (71), Permaul (130), Kevin Sinclair (94), Paul (169) and Motie (225). The eye-catching Chandrapaul Hemraj would have wanted to achieve more, as he scored 227 runs in seven innings, at an average of 32. Known for his attacking stroke play, Hemraj is still to convert those half-centuries into his second First-Class century.
While Leon Johnson’s leadership and experience in the team remain supreme, the runs have dried up for the elegant left-hander. He scored only 123 runs in eight innings, at an average of 23.28. Despite individuals calling for Johnson to be dropped, the young players back in Guyana are not even touching the proverbial selection door. These young players such as Kevlon Anderson, Matthew Nandu, Mavindra Dindyal and Sachin Singh must hit down the selection door, and pressure the senior men in the Guyana team.
The 34-year-old Johnson, who led Guyana to five consecutive Four-Day championships, has certainly done his part. But with Vice Captain Paul eyeing a West Indies recall, and seeking further representation, who is the Guyana Harpy Eagles grooming to take over from Johnson, as full-time captain? Perhaps, it should be Imlach, a man that is disciplined and willing to learn.
The fast-bowling points have dried up for Guyana this season. Only 6.8, and Smith who bowled well in phases this season finished with seven wickets. Demetri Cameron finished with four wickets, and he still has a lot to learn at the First-Class level. Perhaps, Ronsford Beaton, who was on tour and did not play a match, will solve the fast-bowling points problem this season.
Head Coach Esuan Crandon, Assistant Coach Ryan Hercules and Manager Albert Smith have done what was required of them this season, along with the physiotherapist Angelica Holder and travelling reserves Antony Adams and Beaton. While it is yet to be confirmed, the Regional Four-Day tournament will restart later this year, and 10 rounds of matches will be played.
Let us see what the Guyana Cricket Board and the team will do different for the next Four-Day season.