Can Guyana regain regional one-day supremacy? Part Two

Today, Stabroek Sport looks at the 14-man Guyana team which will attempt to win limited overs title number 10 when they compete in the KFC Cup regional cricket competition which bowls off next Tuesday at several venues here.

It is generally felt that, in limited overs cricket, the team that plays better on the day, will win.

Having said that, this year’s KFC Cup should be one with a difference in terms of teams’ approach to the limited overs game especially since the advent of Twenty20 games and competitions has raised the bar.

It has made batsmen more aware of what they can accomplish.

Even before Twenty20 cricket, Australia and some of the other international teams, had been producing more 300-plus totals than before and sub-200 totals were rarely defendable.

The first task of the Ramnaresh Sarwan-led team will be to qualify for the semi-finals and being grouped with Trinidad and Tobago, the Windward Islands and the University of the West Indies teams is the perfect start.

Additionally, they will have the advantage of playing at home before crowds rooting for them and on pitches that they are more accustomed to playing on.

Guyana’s strength will lie in their batting but the bowlers’ input will be just as important.

Below is a brief assessment of the 14 players selected.

Sewnarine Chattergoon

The left-handed Chatter-goon has established himself as the premier opening batsman and will have to anchor the innings.

By no means a blocker, Chattergoon will want to increase his tally of two centuries at this level.

A productive tournament will not only enhance Guyana’s chances of title number 10, but could also nudge the West Indies selectors and give Chattergoon another opportunity to wear the West Indies maroon colours at the one-day International level.

Royston Crandon

The robust Crandon, after a dream debut last year against the Windward Islands in Grenada where he scored a century, seems to have lost his form and confidence. He is a bit suspect against genuine quick bowling and will need to be consistent or he could make way at the top of the order for `Mr. Dependable’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has opened for the West Indies with great success.

Narsingh Deonarine

Narsingh Deonarine will fill the pivotal number-three position. It is a position from where he will be able to either guide Guyana home (the finisher) or help amass formidable totals.

He too will also want to impress the West Indies selectors after being selected on the World Cup Twenty20 team for the recent tournament in South Africa.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

The skipper, Sarwan will need to provide inspirational leadership both on and off the field. He will also need to rediscover the form of 2005 when he scored three centuries on the way to helping Guyana land their ninth title.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Either as opener or middle order batsman, Chanderpaul’s presence will be invaluable. He also has a role to play in the dressing room or at team meetings. He is the linchpin of the team’s batting and one would hope that the mother lode he struck on the tour of England earlier this year, still has that rich vein of golden form.

Travis Dowlin

Dowlin will want to embarrass the West Indies selectors for his omission from the Twenty20 squad to South Africa after being named man-of-the-match in the inaugural Stanford twenty20 tournament.

He has been on the fringe of being selected for the West Indies team.

A fairly consistent performer for his country, his contribution with the bat in the middle could be vital. Dowlin is easily the best slip fielder around and his off-spin bowling is underrated. His input at team meetings could be pivotal.

Darwin Christian

Should Christian continue his patchy glove work behind the stumps, then Guyana could be made to chase big totals especially if he puts down a few big bats as happened when he dropped Brian Lara on nought off Esaun Crandon against Trinidad in last year’s Carib Beer competition. Lara went on to get a century and see Trinidad to first innings points.

But, should Christain manage to improve on his ‘keeping and have a consistent series with the bat and behind the stumps, he has the potential of joining Milton Pydanna as the only Guyanese wicket-keeper to play One Day Internationals.

Neil Mc Garrell

Mc Garrell could consider himself very fortunate to be included in this team. At the age of 35, only time will tell if he can still be economical with the ball, sharp in the outfield and a useful hitter at the death with the bat.

Mc Garrell’s selection seems to be based on Veerasammy Permaul’s inclusion on the West Indies U-19 Colts team which will participate in the tournament.

At the end of the tournament it will be known for Mc Garrell if age is just another number.

Mahendra Nagamootoo

This tournament could be the last for the regional record holder. The $64,000 question is:can Nagamootoo rediscover his form of old?. If the answer is yes, then Guyana will be able to restrain or dismiss teams cheaply. If, however, the answer is no, then Sarwan would need to find some answers himself.

A dangerous hitter at the death, Nagamootoo’s all-round experience could prove invaluable.

Reon King

King could consider himself very lucky to still be wearing national colours.

He had a very disappointing KFC Cup and first-class outing earlier this year.

The former West Indies speedster, who has been compared to Michael Holding of the Whispering Death fame, seems to have lost confidence, enthusiasm and stamina and it will be interesting to see how he will perform at the start of the innings or at the death when Sarwan will obviously be looking to exert pressure on the opposing sides.

Esaun Crandon

After making a name for himself with his pinch hitting in the inaugural Stanford Twenty20 tournament in Antigua and grabbing a seven-wicket haul against Trinidad in last year’s Carib Beer tournament (Brian Lara and all), Crandon seems to have lost confidence.

He will need to regain the all-round form which led him to West Indies colours for the Hong Kong Sixes tournament.

His big hitting and miserly bowling, if reproduced, could see Guyana claiming title number 10.

Zaheer Mohammed

Mohammed could count himself unlucky not to be selected two or three seasons ago. If he does play, he could be a very useful off-spinner and lower order batsman.

If he disciplines himself he could be one for the future.

Assad Fudadin

The stylish Fudadin is not suited for One-Day cricket. His selection seems to have been based on two painstaking half-centuries in the recent Inter-County tournament. If he does play, he could be under enormous pressure to prove he could compete at this level.

Christopher Barnwell

The baby of the team. Barnwell is the son of former national footballer Chris-topher Barnwell snr. and nephew of Dion Barnwell (another former national footballer) and the late Andrew Lyght, who played for DCC and Guyana. This naturally-talented player has the right pedigree.

He has been a consistent performer with bat and ball in Division One cricket for DCC and could debut earlier than expected if King or Royston Crandon fails to handle the early pressure.

Only time will tell if this Queenstown lad can emulate the likes of Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs and Roger Harper and go on to play at the highest level.