West Indies’ 4-Day Championships: Nandu ready for First-Class debut

… selectors say he’s “well-equipped”

By Brandon Corlette

Matthew Nandu is expected to make his Frist-Class cricket debut as a member of the Guyana Harpy Eagles team that would be opposing the Barbados Pride in the West Indies 4-Day Championships which begin on February 1 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

The left-hander is expected to partner Chandrapaul Hemraj, since Tagenarine Chanderpaul is on West Indies duties in Zimbabwe. A former West Indies Under-19 batsman, Nandu has said he is looking forward to this opportunity while he is also hoping to learn from his senior opening partner Chandrapaul Hemraj.

“I am looking forward to the experience. I just want to make my First-Class debut. I am looking forward to opening with him (Chandrapaul Hemraj), a senior man in the side. I am just looking to learn as much as possible. If we both play our own game, we will be successful,” Nandu explained.

The 19-year-old Nandu is set to follow in the footsteps of his father Arjune Nandu in playing First-Class cricket for Guyana. He scored two half-centuries in the trial matches played at Providence.
Nandu is no stranger to cricket in Antigua, and he will be aiming to use his previous knowledge to capitalise on his maiden stint.

“The pitch in Antigua (we played Under-19 trials for West Indies), (for) the first 10 overs, the wicket is moist, the first 10-15 overs is difficult to bat on there, but the wicket should be able to dry out,” Nandu said.

Nandu, who played most of his cricket in Canada, and returned to play cricket in Georgetown, has said he is not looking too far ahead as it relates to West Indies senior selection. “For me, I want to take it game by game, but I just want to keep enjoying the experience. I would love to play for West Indies, but I want to keep enjoying the experience and the opportunity,” Nandu added.

Detailing his experience on playing cricket in Canada, Nandu said: “That is where my cricket started. My dad has worked with me since I was small to now. I feel like I developed a lot playing in Canada, and playing back and forth in Guyana.”

Meanwhile, the Guyana Harpy Eagles Lead Selector Ravindranauth Seeram has said Nandu’s technique is solid. “Nandu stood out in the trials, in addition to Savory. Nandu scored heavy after Savory. With his technique and so forth, we think he will do well in the games coming up,” Seeram disclosed.

And Manager/Selector Albert Smith has had this to say: “Potentially, I think Nandu is one of the most promising batsmen. He is well-equipped, and once he can continue, he will be one for the future in West Indies Cricket. He is a very good player.”

Guyana Harpy Eagles squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Matthew Nandu, Kemol Savory, Tevin Imlach, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Ronsford Beaton, Akshaya Persaud, Ashmead Nedd, Shamar Joseph.

The four-day tournament would be bowling off in Antigua and Grenada. In Antigua, defending champions Barbados Pride would start their bid for a third straight title when they face Guyana Harpy Eagles in the feature match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) from February 1 to 4.