-no room for Pooran, Singh,
 Garraway and Fudadin

Demerara and national limited overs all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, along with Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) prolific opener Shemroy Barrington has found favour with the national selectors, having being named in the 14 man squad for Guyana’s first two away games in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) 2009 Regional Carib Beer Series.

Shemroy Barrington rejoices after completing his second century in the GCB President’s Cup

Both Barnwell and Barrington were members of the Demerara twenty20 team which lost its title to former champions Berbice at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, following a four wicket defeat last Friday night.

Whilst Barnwell and Barrington are a part of the 13 man squad for the first two away games against Windward Islands in Grenada and Combined Campuses and Colleges in Barbados respectively, there was no place for Gajanand Singh, Assad Fudadin, Homchand Pooran and Trevon Garraway.

Steven Jacobs

But former national under-19 captain and West Indies vice-captain Steven Jacobs has been given a recall out of the wilderness, whilst despite being given the axe by his county board, national wicketkeeper Darwin Christian has been the man entrusted with the glove work behind the stumps.

Speaking with Stabroek Sports, Barrington expressed his delight at being selected, whilst at the same time indicated that his hard work over the last year has paid dividends for him.

“I must say that I am happy to be included in the team. In fact, I am overwhelming with joy at my selection and will be looking forward to go out there and do of my best. My aim is to score a lot of runs whilst at the same time, walk away as the highest run scorer for Guyana and if possible, overall in the competition once I am selected for the remainder of the matches.”

The 20 year old Barrington had earlier inked his name in the selectors mind, with his back to back centuries which were scored in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President’s Cup competition, whilst being a member for the Rohan Kanhai Strikers.

He had scores of 140 and 114 and 22 made against the Lance Gibbs Tigers and the Clive Lloyd Supercats respectively, whilst he scored a pugnacious 63 against Essequibo in the just concluded GCB/Pepsi/Carib Beer Inter-county twenty20 competition.

His teammate Jacobs wasted no time in expressing his gratitude to the selectors, who saw it fit to exercise their faith in him once again.

“I must say thanks to the selectors for placing their faith in me once again and this time around, I intend to go out there and do my best, as I am looking to make an impact in this competition with both the bat and the ball.”
Jacobs, whose highest score at this level for Guyana was his 16 against Barbados in 2006 at the Carlton Cricket Club ground, went on to state, “I have been working very hard towards this selection. After playing three years ago, I have matured a lot especially in my batting and knowing what is expected of me, I intend to go out there and deliver the goods for my team.”

“I am looking at an average of 45 to 50 at the end of the tournament, which would place me amongst the top five batsmen for Guyana. At the same time, I will try to be consistent as possible as my aim is to be a regular member of the team.”

Pooran can consider himself unlucky not to have been selected for the first two away games, taking into consideration, that he was one of the three centurions (Arjune and Barrington the other two), in the GCB Presidents Cup competition.

Fudadin, Singh and Mohammed were all members of the team which lost it’s first three away matches this year, whilst Vishal Singh who is also  the standby list, and Garraway arguably the best fast bowler in Guyana, may want to question their expulsion.

Guyana and West Indies limited overs left handed batsman Leon Johnson along with Travis Dowlin, Narsingh Deonarine and Royston Crandon, are expected to shoulder the batting with Barnwell, Barrington, Christian, Jacobs and company.

Even though not much can be said of the bowling, Esaun Crandon, Brendon Bess, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Barnwell, Jacobs and to an extent Barrington, are all capable of taking care of that department.

The 13 man squad which has no captain appointed as yet, with both Johnson and Dowlin being the likely candidates for same reads; Krishna Arjune, Shemroy Barrington, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Royston Crandon, Darwin Christian, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Esaun Crandon, Brendon Bess and Steven Jacobs.

The seven standby players are Homchand Pooran, Vishaul Singh, Trevon Garraway, Assad Fudadin, Delbert Hicks, Zaheer Mohammed and Gajanand Singh.

No manager or coach has been appointed for the team as yet.