For the first time in the WICB First-Class tournament Guyana showed some backbone before they drew their game against Barbados at the Guyana National Stadium and skipper Assad Fudadin was pleased with the performance.
Prior to Guyana making 303 last Saturday against Barbados in the first innings, their highest score was 197 against Jamaica. The team’s batting display up to their fourth round clash against the Bajans has been woeful although there were glimpses of those earlier performances in their second innings when they made 163-9.
However, when Stabroek Sport spoke with Fudadin yesterday he said that he was pleased with the improvement of his batsmen, who complemented the bowlers well. Guyana’s bowling throughout the tournament has been penetrative, especially with the combination of West Indies ‘A’ spinners Devendra Bishoo, who was called up as a replacement for the injured Dwayne Bravo in the current ICC World Cup in India, and Veerasammy Permaul, who had a match haul of 7-77 from 49.5 overs.
Fudadin, who led from the front with 88 in the first innings, noted however that a win would have been more pleasing especially since the all-round display of the team was unlike any other time in the tournament. He indicated that the batsmen seem to be getting more confident and he intends to have them continue in that vein for the next three games.
Guyana’s next game will be against the England Lions at the Guyana National Stadium from March 11-14. He also hopes that the batsmen will go on to convert their half centuries and good starts into triple figures, making direct reference to himself, Vishal ‘Cheesy’ Singh (66) and Leon Johnson (51).
Fudadin believes that these improvements are promising and they will be looking to stay grounded since he believes that his next opponents will not be easy. The England Lions are third in the points standing on 30 points while the Guyanese have 13, securing the sixth position.
Therefore, the Cricket Development Committee (CDC) of the GCB has organised a two-day practice match from tomorrow at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda. Steven Jacobs’ XI will face Fudadin’s XI from 09:30 hours.
During the practice match, newly-appointed coach Mark Harper and his team will be observing and evaluating players’ strengths and weaknesses. Selectors have called 31 players for the trial match and have also named Sewnarine Chattergoon and Narsingh Deonarine, both of whom had to sit out with injury for Guyana’s last four games.
They have also named pacer Paul Wintz, who was also sidelined with injury since his return from the Airtel Champions League 20/20 Tournament in South Africa last September.
Fudadin XI: Rajendra Chandrika, Richard Ramdeen, Leon Johnson, Vishal Singh, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Chaderpaul Hemraj, Christopher Hemraj, Anthony Bramble, Steven Latcha, Totaram Bishun, Amir Khan, Brandon Bess, Raj Nanan and Andre Stoll.
Jacobs XI: Sewnarine Chattergoon, Shemroy Barrington, Trevon Griffith, Gajanand Singh, Derwin Christian, Kwame Crosse, Veerasammy Permaul, Zaheer Mohamed, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz, Delon Heyliger, Esaun Crandon, Keon Joseph and Jamal Hinckson.
