We have to play aggressive cricket – Bramble

By Akeem Greene

Some January 24 at the Kensington Oval, Barbados, Guyana Jaguars will begin the hunt to regain the Regional 50-over title after a drought of close to 12 years. In order to achieve this feat, glove man Anthony Bramble is of the view that the team must play aggressive cricket.

“We have had our issues getting over the line in big games but we have our plans and goals for this tournament, so we have to play aggressive cricket and win the big games” Bramble confidently stated.

At the last Super50, Bramble carried the Jaguars’ attack, scoring his maiden List A half-century in explosive fashion but it was not enough to get the team over the line in the semi-final against eventual champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

In one of the team’s practice matches, the Berbician who struck a whirlwind 67-ball 95, is upbeat about replicating similar performances when the tournament opens.

“It’s a good feeling, I have been scoring runs for myself and most importantly, the team which makes me feel a bit confident and I want to transfer that into the Super50,” the right-handed batsman said.

Having played 21 List A matches, averaging 23.76 runs per innings, the 26 year-old says that his role in the batting department is not limited to that of a “pinch-hitter” since he can adapt to any role the team may require.

He explained, “I know my role in the team as wicketkeeper/batsman and I know at times I will be called up to score runs in important situations and when that arises I want to go out and do it well in the tournament.”

He added, “Whenever needed, I can go up or down the order, whatever the captain and team need, I think I can do the job.”

With 13 catches and 6 stumpings in the first half of the 2016/2017 Regional 4-day season, the Albion Cricket Club player wants his form behind the stump to keep improving.

“My wicket-keeping is going good so far, there are still some areas that I can top up on so I take all my chances behind the stump” he disclosed.

Bramble and his teammates are set to depart Guyana on Saturday and will hope that they can book a spot in the February 18 final in Antigua.

Jaguars are grouped along slide Barbados Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners and ICC Americas and will be based in Barbados for their eight preliminary matches where each team plays the others in their group twice.