Superbly fit Jaguars record encouraging numbers at fitness test

– Hetmyer exempted from test due to concussion issues

Story and photos By Brandon Corlette

As the Guyana Jaguars continue their preparation for the Regional Super50 Cup that is set to bowl off on February 7 in Antigua, some of the country’s finest cricketers assembled at the Leonora Track and Field Centre for an intense fitness session.
According to Guyana Jaguars Head Coach Esuan Crandon, the players produce encouraging numbers in the fitness assessment despite some of the players did not produce the numbers expected of them, but the players will get better.
“Guys were doing their work under my watch and under the guidance of Nel Barry Jr. who produced the training programme, so I was satisfied,” Crandon said.
Crandon said that, over the years, Tevin Imlach, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson and Kevlon Anderson, among others, have been outstanding during these fitness assessments.

Imlach achieved a rare feat, hitting 60 in the beep test. It is the first time it has been achieved in the history of Jaguars’ fitness sessions.
West Indies batting star Shimron Hetmyer was given exemption from this fitness assessment due to his concussion issues, and he will be assessed in a matter of days when he is released from the medical panel.

The Head Coach also highlighted the improvements of pacer Nial Smith. With a strong batch of players available for selection to the Jaguars 15-man squad that is set to be announced soon, fitness will always be a criterion for selection.
Meanwhile, newbies on the block, Demetri Cameron and Mavindra Dindyal, had good numbers in their maiden fitness assessment with the Jaguars.
As the Super50 looms, Crandon said, he is of view that the Jaguars currently have access to the best players in the country from whom to select that final 15-man squad.
Besides Crandon, the fitness assessment was supervised by Julian Moore and Colin Stuart. The Jaguars will continue their preparation for the upcoming Regional Super50 Cup with three practice matches set for the upcoming week at LBI.
The three practice games, featuring squads led by Leon Johnson and Shimron Hetmyer, will now be played on January 18, January 21, and January 23 at the same LBI venue, all starting at 9:00h.

The squads for the practice matches are as follows.
Hetmyer’s team comprises Chandrapaul Hemraj, Raymond Perez, Kevlon Anderson, Shimron Hetmyer (Captain), Sherfane Rutherford, Akshaya Persaud, Kemol Savory, Bhaskar Yadram, Kevin Sinclair, Demitri Cameron, Keon Joseph, Clinton Pestano, Anthony Adams, Vishaul Singh, Mavindra Dindyal, Steven Sankar, Sachin Singh and Ricardo Adams.
Johnson’s team comprises Trevon Griffith, Tevin Imlach, Leon Johnson (Captain), Jonathan Foo, Christopher Barnwell, Assad Fudadin, Anthony Bramble, Quinton Sampson, Gudakesh Motie, Ramaal Lewis, Nial Smith, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Devendra Bishoo, Andre Stoll, Totaram Bishun, Richie Looknauth and Kelvin Umroa.
Veerasammy Permaul and Raymon Reifer will be on West Indies duty, while Keemo Paul will be otherwise engaged in cricket duties, Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) has noted.