Essequibo has short-listed a 14-man squad to contest the Castrol Under-15 two-day Inter-County cricket tournament that is set to commence tomorrow, weather permitting.
Late last year president of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) Alvin Johnson had told Stabroek Sport that the revamping of cricket in the county needed immediate attention to be more competitive in the inter-county arena.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport, Johnson stated: “We have always been competitive at the under-15, 17 and 19 level, but display disparity at the senior level, thus the need for the revamping of cricket in Essequibo. This task would be made easier for us when we complete our hostel at Anna Regina.”
He noted that this would help to bring to a central location all the players from the junior to the senior levels on a fortnightly or monthly basis, according to what could be afforded for training.
He said further that, “The squad selected to represent Essequibo in the Castrol Under-15 inter-county competition is a combination of players from the school under-15 competition as well as players who participated in the competition but were not seen by the selectors. A two-day trial match was held and after same was completed and based on the performances of the players, the squad was selected.”
There are three players returning who represented the county last year at this level. Among them is captain and middle order batsman Dwayne Singh, who is expected to lead from the front. He will be supported by Neshaul Gowkarran and Nokta Moses, both of whom competed last year.
Their openers Moses, Terrence Harry and Trevon Benons will be expected to post a good partnership for the rest of the batting to build on.
With players such as Mark Tyrell, Rensford Beaton, Jeremy Basdeo, Shaun Garraway and Kevin Fredericks who are all fast bowlers and can handle themselves with the bat also, Singh and his coach Vibert Johnson should have an unenviable task on their hands when they sit down to pick the final eleven.
Add Gowkarran, Moses, Vejai Surujpaul and the two wicketkeepers Ricardo Adams and Final Karim and the Demerara team can be in for a surprise.
The 14-man squad reads: Dwayne Singh, Neshaul Gowkarran, Ricardo Adams, Mark Tyrell, Faizal Karim, Rensford Beaton, Nokta Moses, Jeremy Basdeo, Shaun Garraway, Kevin Fredericks, Herry Greene, Vejai Surujpaul, Terrence Harry, Trevon Benons, Orin Belfield (manager) and Vibert Johnson (coach).
