Jaguars focusing on solidifying top order – Crandon
WICB/ PCL Regional Super50 2017…
By Akeem Greene
Saving not tasted Championships spoils in a Regional 50-over tournament since the 2005 KFC Cup where they defeated Barbados by seven runs (D/L) at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Head Coach of the Guyana Jaguars Esuan Crandon is of the view that once the team can solidify their top order; they can reap more success in limited over competitions.
Rajendra Chandrika (yellow top) and Bhaskar Yadram undergo a fitness drill under the watchful eyes of Coach Crandon at Providence on Thursday
Speaking to <<Guyana Times Sport>> after the team’s training session at the National Stadium on Thursday, Crandon revealed that, “this year when we look to select we will be looking at areas such as batting positions especially at the top of the order, we are trying to rectify that area since we have not been successful in that area.”
He further stated that “when we look back and did some research on the numbers in our past tournaments, when our top four did well we won most of our matches so if we can do those things we can win games and even the competition since our bowling is good with the guys restricting teams.”
With rain hampering the training squad progress and considering the tournament begins on January 24 in Barbados and Antigua, the Jaguars had to resort to indoor session at Chetram Singh Indoor facility at La Bonne Intention (LBI) and got their first field session at the Stadium on Thursday where they conducted a series of fielding drills targeted at team bonding and fitness after most the players would have a two-weeks lay-off and the former Guyana all-rounder feels the guys are showing good signs.
“Judging from yesterday and today, it does not look bad we have about 17 to 18 days to prepare the team and today we focused a lot on group work and other team bonding actives, everything is coming together we just need to continue working hard,” he explained.
Crandon who was a part of the team that won the last title bemoans not copping another since and says that he and the rest of the coaching staff will be doing the best to get the players in the best possible state to win the championship.
“To me it’s very disappointing, as I said to them, in 2017 one of wishes from the cricketing prospective is for us to win this title and see more of our players in the West Indies limited overs team,” said Crandon who took 29 wickets in his 28 matches at List A level.
He further stated, that “myself and the rest of the coaching staff will do our best to prepare this team to perform at their optimum levels… obviously, they have to perform on the field but we got to do a little more to give them the confidence that they can do it.”
The training Squad will return to Providence on Monday with the hope of getting their first session on the pitch.
The squad reads: Shimron Hetmyer, Leon Johnson, Assad Fudadin, Raymon Reifer, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Keon Joseph, Paul Wintz, Christopher Barnwell, Chandrapal Hemraj, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Romario Shepherd, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Adams, Gudakesh Motie, Robin Bacchus, Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Vishaul Singh, Jonathan Foo, Sherfane Rutherford, Royston Crandon, Clinton Pestano, Steven Jacobs, Eon Hooper and Kevon Boodie.
