Guyana U19 slated for 2nd encampment in Essequibo

The Guyana Under-19 cricket team will continue its preparation for the upcoming Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-19 Tournament with its second weekend encampment, which was scheduled to begin on Friday afternoon (June 6) and run through Sunday (June 8) at the Essequibo Hostel, located in the scenic Cinderella County.
Both the first and second encampments have been held in Essequibo as part of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) effort to decentralise its development programmes and create balanced opportunities for youth cricketers across the country.
Speaking ahead of the encampment, Head Coach Garvin Nedd emphasised the importance of continuing the team’s physical and technical work while beginning to instil greater tactical awareness and match intelligence.
“This weekend we’ll continue the physical preparation, but we’re also moving into fine-tuning technical areas — especially batting and bowling,” said Nedd. “We’ve already begun introducing game sense and situational awareness so the players understand what we want to achieve as a unit in this year’s tournament.”
Reflecting on the previous encampment, Nedd noted that while inclement weather limited some of the outdoor sessions, he was pleased with the level of skill displayed, particularly by the batsmen.
“The batters showed solid technique in the sessions we had access to. While we couldn’t do as much with the wicketkeepers, pacers, and spinners due to the conditions, we made the most of the facilities available. Overall, I’m quite impressed with the skill set shown so far,” he added.
Looking ahead, the Coach remains cautiously optimistic about the group’s progress.
“We’re hoping the weather holds up so we can get in more match scenarios and practical sessions. These players are talented, and many of them I’ve watched from the U17 level. It’s now about ensuring they understand their roles clearly and come together as a cohesive unit.”
Team Manager Nazeer Mohammed also shared his perspective, noting that while the first encampment was affected by heavy rainfall, it still served its purpose in building team spirit and laying the foundation.
“We were hit with rain during the last encampment, but still managed some solid physical work at the new stadium in the morning. Coach Nedd also did one-on-one technical sessions,” said Mohammed. “This time, the GCB has taken extra steps to minimise disruptions, including protecting the practice nets area so we can get in more batting and bowling drills.”
The GCB has also made a bowling machine available to provide quality, targeted batting practice throughout the weekend. Mohammed praised the players’ attitude and commitment, noting that their enthusiasm boded well for the tournament ahead.
“What stood out was the commitment. Despite limited on-field time, these boys were eager, disciplined, and fully locked in. They’re listening, learning, and showing the right attitude to represent Guyana proudly at the regional level.”
This second encampment forms part of an ongoing development programme aimed at refining player performance and finalising the squad for the regional showdown.