Warriors take on Tallawahs in must-win clash of CPL 2022 today

-execution is key for Warriors, says Griffith

Story and photos By Brandon Corlette

The Guyana Amazon Warriors will take on the Jamaica Tallawahs in match 25 of the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) today.
This match will mark the first of the season to be played at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, and the Warriors would want to bounce back and give their fans something to cheer about.

According to Head Coach Rayon Griffith, despite the Warriors being on three points from six games and are at the bottom of the table, the players are confident.
“We know the people (at) home are still backing us, and we know the team is in good spirits. We believe we still have a chance to win this competition, most importantly starting well against Jamaica,” Griffith told the media on Tuesday morning.

The Head Coach is also looking for Warriors’ batsmen to score half-centuries, something that has been lacking. “For me, from a batting perspective, we need to stretch that a bit longer, and try and get some fifties, sixties, and even seventies. We had one innings from Klaasen, who got 60-odd, and we won that match, so we know where we have fallen short.
“Bowling-wise, at the death we still have some work to do. Everyone has to put their hands up now,” Griffith has said.

Warriors will be without the services of Tabriz Shamsi and Heinrich Klaasen, but suitable replacements will feature at Providence. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the wicketkeeper-batsman who opens the batting from Afghanistan, will suit up, as would the Bangladesh star all-rounder Shakib Al Hassan.
While the Warriors are under pressure to win, Griffith is hoping that this pressure would bring the best out of the players.
“We cannot bother with the pressure. We are trying to keep them (the players) together, and as I said, they are in good spirits. The pressure could be on, but at the end of the day, it is cricket, and we have been there before, so you have to know how to handle that, and this could bring out the best in them.
“I still have confidence in my side to go all the way. We know there are a lot of people that are supporting us and are giving us energy. Some of the players have listened to them, and we still have fight in us,” Griffith said at the Marriott Hotel. “We have to stay more on the positive side, and our execution is key.”

Captain Shimron Hetmyer has been under the pump, but Griffith has said this East Canje Berbician is growing on the job.
“Hetmyer is growing. From since game one, especially around the players and myself, we are having a better communication, and he is learning. I believe he is going to get better, and he has been doing his job in terms of captaincy,” Griffith explained.

Chris Green excited for Providence return
Former Guyana Amazon Warriors captain Chris Green will suit up for the Jamaica Tallawahs. The Australian is looking forward to bowling on the spin-friendly tracks in Guyana.
“For me, it has been a long time since I have been back in Guyana. It is great to be back. I have so many fond memories of Guyana, the support that team gets is second to none. I love playing at Providence. The crowd is amazing, because I know they are passionate about it,” Green said, after a training session at Everest.
The Tallawahs, who are in third with eight points in eight matches, have had good performances this season. When asked about what has worked for the Tallawahs this season, Green said: “The positive thing is that we did not have one or two players dominating for us. For us, we had different players coming in at different times for us. Even the games we have been losing, we take confidence from those games.”
Green, who has tasted success at Providence on multiple occasions, has said that runs on the board is key to winning at Providence. “Runs on the board (are) important. There is a lot that suits the spinners, that is why I enjoy bowling there, and I have been in teams where you score a total (small or big) and you can defend it. I remember defending 100 runs with (Warriors) against Jamaica, where we bowled 20 overs of spin, and at night it may play better,” Green explained.