Guyana’s four-day Captain Leon Johnson said that he’s confident of a successful return to the national side following a knee injury which has forced him to sit out of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional four-day first-round match against Jamaica on Friday.
The former West Indies Under-19 skipper was ruled out of his team’s first encounter against the Jamaicans due to an injury he sustained while fielding on the last day of the team’s four-day warm-up game played at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday.
“I’m very disappointed, it’s unfortunate the way it happened, but these things do occur in sports,”
the left-hander told Stabroek Sports yesterday during an exclusive interview after the announcement was made about his unavailability.
When asked about if he sees himself making a successful comeback to the team for the other remaining rounds, Johnson confidently said “Yes! I do see myself playing during the remainder of the tournament, I did an MRI scan yesterday and I will get the results today which will let me know the extent of the injury.”
He also said that upon his return he will seek to “Lead the team well, lead by example and help his country to win the remaining matches.”
Johnson is one of the key components in the Guyana team in all formats. He was named Male cricketer of the year for 2013 following outstanding batting performances locally, regionally and internationally.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the skipper’s absence, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has named right-arm leg-break bowler Amir Khan as Johnson’s replacement. Khan who was Guyana’s leading wicket taker in the Regional Inter-County four-day competition is presently in Trinidad & Tobago playing League cricket and will travel from there to Jamaica.
Veteran left-handed batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was appointed as Johnson’s deputy, will take over the captaincy while all-rounder Christopher Barnwell takes up the post as Vice-Captain.
The GCB is currently awaiting a specialist report on Johnson’s injury to decide on his re-entry into the squad. The Guyana 13-man team accompanied by Manager Alvin Johnson and Coach Esaun Crandon winged out yesterday morning to Jamaica.
The Guyana four-day team reads: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Captain), Christopher Barnwell (Vice-Captain), Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Anthony Bramble, Amir Khan, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ronsford Beaton, Keon Joseph and Vishal Singh. The Manager is Alvin Johnson and the Coach is Esuan Crandon.
