Johnson, GCA collaborate to bring One-Day Clinic

West Indies left-handed middle order batsman and Guyana Jaguars four-day captain, Leon Johnson, has joined forces with the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) to hold a one-day bowling clinic on August 30 from 9:00h to 15:00h.

Asked by Guyana Times Sport why he decided to be a major sponsor for the clinic, Johnson said,” It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, a form of giving back to clubs in the association that I’ve grown up playing in. when I was younger, I was given the same opportunities to learn and develop, so it’s only right that I give young talented players those same opportunities”.

The clinic is meant to target GCA- associated clubs, and young batsmen and bowlers between the ages of 15 and 18. Johnson further explained, “I had approached an executive from the GCA about a year ago, but as I said, due to national team commitments, inclement weather and ground availability, the clinic was hampered from going ahead. But now that the weather seems to be favourable and the kids are off of school, we have decided to go ahead with it. I hope to make it an annual even and reach out to a larger amount of clubs across Guyana”.
Players are asked to dress in all white cricket suits, or track pants and a white top with no sleeves. GCA-associated clubs are asked to make contact with the relevant superiors.

Johnson made his first class debut when he was called up to the national side in 2003-04 season. With a first class batting average of 32.62, Johnson was by no means an ordinary player. In the 2007-08 domestic season, he scored 427 runs from 6 matches at an average of 42.70 for Guyana in the Carib Beer Series.
He fell six runs short of his maiden first-class century on March 7, 2008 when he edged a wide delivery from off-spinner Shirley Clarke against Combined Campuses and Colleges. The innings was his highest score of the season. Johnson is currently the Guyana Jaguars four-time four-day captain.

The promising signs were enough for the West Indies selectors to choose him for the ODI tri-series in Canada later that year. He impressed with a half-century in his second match. He later earned a call-up to the Test squad to New Zealand.