By Calvin Roberts
“I need to see the batsmen stand up and be counted.”
So said coach of the Guyana TCL Under-19 team Hubern Evans yesterday during a tour of the Guyana TCL plant by the national under-19 cricket team.
Guyana are the defending three-day champions and they leave for Barbados next Wednesday to participate in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) TCL-sponsored regional under-19 cricket tournament.
“Our batsmen need to stand up and be counted. Our bowling is where our strength lies and I believe that the present crop of fast bowlers that we are walking with, are capable enough of taking any 20 wickets that are needed to win the game for us,” stated Evans.
“But what I need to see is the batsmen doing their work. I don’t want to see them getting starts and then gifting their wickets away in the 30s and 40s. They need to compile big scores and in the process give the bowlers something to work with.”
Whilst expressing his disappointment over the way the weather played havoc with his team’s preparations, Evans was still optimistic that the defending champions who play their first game in the three-day version of the competition against the Leeward Islands next Friday could retain that title and also add the limited overs one also.
“Our preparation has not gone the way we wanted it to due to the weather. Firstly, the two, three-day practice matches we had scheduled were hampered by the weather. Secondly, following the late introduction of the limited-overs version, we had settled for a practice game, but that too did not come off due to the weather.”
The former Guyana and Berbice player who had the opportunity of being the coach when Guyana retained the title under the captaincy of former West Indies under-19 captain Steven Jacobs last year in St Kitts, still dabbles with the sport with his club Young Warriors in Berbice.
“Even though we were not able to get as much turf preparations as possible, we are still thankful to the management of the Guyana National Stadium who made it their duty to ensure that the practice pitches are ready for us to use when we get there.”
Evans also expressed satisfaction with the composition of the team, calling it a well balanced one.
“This team is a well balanced one. We are having batsmen who are capable enough to offer support to the bowlers. In that department, we have a variety to choose from with captain Eugene La Fleur leading the way with his compact left-arm batting that is complemented by his slow left arm bowling.
“Add Jonathan Foo, who also bowls off-spin and Dillon Heyliger and who is capable enough to open the new ball and complement the three quick bowlers we are taking with us.
“Also there is Stephen Latcha who is also a useful bowler to any captain,” said Evans.
Meanwhile, manager of the team and vice-president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Alvin Johnson, in an invited comment told Stabroek Sport that he too was pleased with the preparation so far.
Johnson also complimented the management team of the stadium.
“Management at the stadium has been very supportive in doing all that they possibly can in helping us get in some much needed turf practice. We have been using the practice pitches for some time now and they (management) have done their utmost to ensure that the pitches are ready for us by the time we arrive there weather permitting.” He added “But having said that, I must say that I am satisfied with the preparation the team has been having so far. We have been able to get in some of our plans so far in terms of our programmes. Some adjustment had to be made, but we have been able to accomplish all that we have planned in terms of getting the guys prepared for the tournament.”
Johnson, who has been managing teams since 2000, expressed his disappointment at three defectors who broke the encampment prior to the completion of same. “I am disappointed with three of our players who broke camp for reasons unknown. The three, wicket keeper Denver Greaves who left on Saturday morning along with opener Michael Felix and middle-order batsman Balbinder Shivpersaud left the camp without the permission of the coach and me.
“I must say also that Greaves did turn up with his father the following morning and offered an apology both in writing and verbally and stated that he was disappointed at not being selected. He was told to rejoin the camp despite such, but has not done so,” Johnson stated.
He continued: His defection has left a strain on our only wicket-keeper in the camp Anthony Bramble, thus leaving me no choice than to ask Demerara standby wicket keeper Dexter Solomon to join the camp and assist with the wicket keeping duties.
“Greaves’s actions could play a serious role in his selection for the future as such actions can affect him. He was granted the opportunity to rejoin the camp this morning (yesterday) after his apology but has not done so.”
Like Evans, Johnson is also dissatisfied at not being able to play the practice games they had scheduled for the team, but is hoping to have a knock in the middle pretty soon.
“We had set these two games so that the guys can have a feel in the middle, but the intermittent weather prevented such from taking place. I am disappointed, but still hoping to give the guys a knock in the middle at the National Stadium before our departure next Tuesday.”
Johnson stated that the team was a well balanced one.
“I am not the technical man in the team. Such a person is the coach but I would like to say based on my experience having been around long enough that this is a well balanced team. The selectors certainly gave to us what we were asking for and that is a well balanced team.”
He added: “The camaraderie in the camp is great and the guys are raring to have a go in Barbados where they will not only be looking to retain the three day title, but also win the limited overs version.
Guyana will play the Leeward Islands in their opening round match from Friday July 4 – to Sunday July 6 at a venue to be named.
