Raymond Barton, manager of the Rest Team that will contest this year’s Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior four-day tournament yesterday admitted that his team was inadequately prepared but said the team will strive to make the best of conditions in the tournament.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport from the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence, Barton said that there was an abundance of talent in the Rest Team which will be led by Gajanand Singh.
He added that if his charges stick to competing with another team rather than names on the team they will give “a good account of themselves.”
The Rest Team will play Berbice from today until Saturday at the Blairmont Development Community Centre ground in the first round of competition from 10:00 hours.
According to Barton part of the plan is to take early advantage over the Berbice team despite the side not being encamped for a long period. This is a disadvantage according to Barton, who said that while the team practiced in an indoor facility, there was no turf preparation.
“This is a setback but we are going to make the best of what is presented to us,” Barton explained adding that one of the factors that can hamper performance was the gelling of the unit.
However, he emphasised that the talented players will make an impact.
Barton said that balance was one the strengths of the team and pointed out that many of the players are all-rounders.
Additionally, Barton said that the team has a mixture of youth and experience, naming former West Indies Test opener Ryan Ramdass, former national opener Shemroy Barrington and Singh as the players with experience in the team.
The Rest Team also has in its lineup former national player Deon Ferrier, who bowls off spin and is a good batsman. Barton also singled out all-rounder Kellon Carmichael, national under-19 pacer Seon Daniels and spinner Raj Nanan, whom Barton believes has a point to prove to the selectors, as players who should do well.
Coach of the Berbice team Adrian Amsterdam, yesterday told Stabroek Sport that his side is at full strength for today’s contest and he is expecting a keenly contested match.
He noted that he will be looking for all his players to contribute to the team’s effort.
He too stated that the team from the Ancient County did not spend much time together but said that the players were playing first division cricket.
According to Amsterdam, his players’ fitness should be at a good level since they were playing first division cricket ever since the limited-overs Inter-County tournament in September.
Rain had also been a factor that interrupted training, according to Amsterdam.
