Former national under-19 and Berbice senior cricketer Neil Williams was named the most productive and dedicated player last Wednesday in the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) 20-year history.
Williams, who played for the national under-19 team in 1995, was also among the players named in the RHTY&SC all-time cricket team which was unveiled as the club continues its 20th anniversary celebration at the Area ‘H’ Ground.
According to a press release, Williams was the first player from the club to play for Berbice and Guyana at the junior level. Williams has the most runs, wickets and centuries and also led the club to the national 40-over championship in 2005. Additionally, he has won the club’s Cricketer-of-the-Year award for a record six times.
Secretary/CEO of RHTY&SC Hilbert Foster, in giving a background to the selection of the all-time XI, stated that in May, as part of planning for the 20th anniversary, the club established a three-member committee to select the best players to have represented the club.
The committee which was headed by Foster was mandated to select six batsmen, one all-rounder, a wicketkeeper, two fast bowlers and a spinner from a total of the 1,207 cricketers who represented the RHTY&SC from 1990-2010 at all levels. The players in the all-time XI were selected based on performance, discipline, attitude and commitment.
Esuan Crandon was selected captain of the all-time XI. The full team in batting order read: James Fraser, Renwick Batson, Assad Fudadin, Neil Williams, Royston Crandon, Andre Percival, Khemraj Mahadeo, Delbert Hicks, Esuan Crandon, Shawn Grant and Ravi Narine.
Explaining the composition Foster stated that Fraser, Batson, Fudadin, Williams, Royston Crandon and Percival were selected as the specialist all-rounders. Hicks will be the wicketkeeper while Esuan Crandon and former national under-19 fast bowler Shawn Grant would share the new balls.
Veteran left-arm spinner Ravi Narine was chosen as the spinner and would receive support from Mahadeo, Williams, Fudadin, Royston Crandon and Percival who are all capable spinners.
Foster also disclosed that the team would be reviewed every five years starting in 2015. Three members of the team Khemraj Mahadeo, Renwick Batson and Ravi Narine were present at the ceremony and together unveiled a poster of the team featuring the photo and individual record of each player
Batson speaking on behalf of his fellow all-time colleagues said that it was a special feeling to be recognised as one of the best players ever for the leading sports club in Guyana. The experienced opening batsman thanked the management of the club for recognising him and his teammates and urged his younger club mates to build on the foundation laid in order to make sure that the RHTY&SC remains the best in Guyana.
