New year, new start, selectors had their reason: Crandon on Foo’s omission

– Paul, Rutherford will be missed

By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Jaguars have announced a strong 15-man squad to contest next month’s Regional Super50 Cup in Antigua. Head Coach of the Jaguars, Esuan Crandon, has said it is good 15-man squad on paper, but the all-round services of Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford would be missed.
He also shared some sentiments on the non-selection of Jonathan Foo, explaining that the selectors had there reason why he was not selected.

“I think we have a decent team on paper, a bit of experience, pretty much balance in terms of youth and experience. Probably we would have liked to have (had) the services of Rutherford or Paul, who would bring their all-round ability that would have been an ideal spot, but it is what it is,” Crandon said.
Further, he noted that this 15-man squad would be aiming to finalise the preparation, start the tournament well, and be capable of winning the championship.
“It is just for me to prepare them well, get them physically and mentally prepared for this tournament,” he declared.

Shedding light on the non-selection of Foo, Crandon said: “Everyone cannot be selected, but the selectors picked the best 15, who they think can represent Guyana this year. Foo would have loved to be in the squad, but the selectors did not go that way, obviously they had their reason why, nothing much for me to say at the moment. We all know what he is capable of, we saw it last season; but, I mean, it’s a new year and a new start,” Crandon explained.
According to a recent Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) release, Paul will sit out the tournament in order to facilitate adequate recovery from an injury, whereas Rutherford, who was considered for selection, has opted to play T/10 and T/20 cricket in Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively, which collectively coincides with his time demands to play for the Guyana Jaguars during the Regional Super 50.
For those players not selected, Crandon has said he is encouraging them to continue working hard and they would be provided with some clarity in areas they need to work on to get in the team.
“The best they can do is use this as an additional motivation. Control what you can control, and leave the rest to the selectors,” Crandon explained.
The Jaguars have four solid opening options with the bat. Hemraj is expected to be the first-choice opener, while Trevon Griffith, Assad Fudadin and Tevin Imlach are openers by nature. Shimron Hetmyer, who is expected to bat at number three, will boost the left-handed stacked top-order.
Seasoned Jaguars captain Leon Johnson and Christopher Barnwell are expected to fill those number four and five slots. Anthony Bramble may bat at number six, if Imlach is not the gloves man at the top of the order. If the latter does play, Akshaya Persaud may fill that void at number six.

With the absence of Rutherford, Raymon Reifer and Paul, all-rounder Romario Shepherd may be called upon to bat and add impetus to the innings. The Jaguars are equipped with three spinners in Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair and Ramaal Lewis, while Keon Joseph and Nial Smith are the other pacers in the balanced squad. However, Jaguars are without that extra variety in a front-line leg-spinner.
Jaguars Super50 squad reads: Chandrapaul Hemraj, Trevon Griffith, Christopher Barnwell, Leon Johnson (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer (vice-captain), Assad Fudadin, Keon Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith, Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Bramble, Akshaya Persaud and Tevin Imlach.