Home Sports National players off to good start in Jaguars league
The first few rounds of the Guyana Cricket Board/Cricket Guyana Inc/Jaguars 50 Overs League have churned out some impressive performances from a few of Guyana’s senior and upcoming cricketers who will be gearing up for the upcoming regional season.
Despite opening rounds one and two being washed out, franchises still continue to show determination, and have grabbed the playing time with both hands. Defending champs Georgetown have been playing well, but they will be happier with the form of skipper Leon Johnson.
The West Indies Test player has been in fine touch to date, hitting back-to-back unbeaten fifties, both in match-winning efforts; while a few of his senior players, like Robin Bacchus, Raymon Pérez and all-rounder Chris Barnwell, have been hitting their straps. Barnwell has been good with the bat, smashing 80-odd, followed by 37, while picking up wickets.
Johnson’s form will be important to the franchise. So, too, would Barnwell’s, as both players play crucial roles in the team. And with Guyana preparing for another regional 4-day title defence, it is good for cricket when the senior players find their touch early in the season.
East Bank’s Vishaul Singh, another of Guyana’s senior players, contributed a solid 45 in the previous round versus Johnson’s men. The left-hander has been around the Windies Test and A teams as of recent, and his form will be key in the middle-order, regardless of the team.
Another batsman who has been in tremendous form is opener Trevon Griffith, who, upon his return to Guyana, having played a few seasons for the Jamaica Scorpions, seems to be hungrier than before. The left-hander crunched 111 in the last game, to follow up his half-century, and could play bigger knocks, which might open a way back for him in the national team.
Veterans Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Ricardo Adams and Anthony Adams, the battery of left-arm spinners, have also been pressing their cases early up front, as they have been among the primary wicket-takers so far.
Young Kemol Savory has shown his skill with the bat by racking up a century for Essequibo, to get his campaign underway; while U19 batsman Kevlon Anderson has continued his form exhibited during the regional tournaments by also getting some runs under his belt playing for his Berbice franchise.
With a few more rounds to go and a number of talented players jostling for spots in Guyana’ senior team, it will be interesting to see how many of the players — both seasoned Jags players and upcoming stars — can cope with the competition ahead of the regional season.
A Cricket West Indies (CWI) fitness team would also be in Guyana for a few days, to conduct a fitness test for the Guyanese players at the Lenora Synthetic Track from 8:00h on Saturday and Sunday.