With two rounds left in the 2015/16 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional 4-Day tournament,
Guyana Jaguars assistant Coach Rayon Griffith said he is confident that the defending champions can finish the season unbeaten.
Griffith told Stabroek Sport during an exclusive interview that once the team sticks to its current tactics, the possibility of them completing 17 matches without a loss by the end of the season is indeed a possibility.
“We are playing good cricket, we haven’t lost in 15 games so it’s been a great effort from the guys and once we continue doing the same thing I think we can go unbeaten.”
The former national pacer made special mention of his fast-bowlers recent performances, lauding the likes of right-arm quick bowlers Ronsford Beaton and Keon Joseph who have taken 15 and 11 wickets respectively along with Barbados-born left-arm swing bowler Raymon Reifer who leads the pack with 17 wickets.
Reifer has slotted nicely into the team and has been a match-winner with the ball. However, the 23 year-old Beaton has not been as consistent as He has been over the past few years, prior to his return to form in St Lucia.
The wiry pacer bullied his way to his first five-wicket haul at this level, picking up 5-43 against the Windwards Hurricane and Griffith said that he was happy to see that the fats men were regaining their positions as the pack leaders.
“The fast bowlers bowled well, it has been a long time since we have been getting performances like this in the fast-bowling department.
“The wicket in St Lucia was a good wicket, it had grass and the pacers put up their hands. Beaton has been working on his game, he’s been around for a while so it’s good to know that he finally got his first five wicket haul,” he added.
Speaking about the pair of left handers; skipper Leon Johnson and Vice-captain Vishaul Singh, who are number one and two on the leading run-scorer list with 633 and 623 runs respectively, Griffith said it was a pleasure to see the two in-room batsmen carrying on in a rich vein of form.
“It’s nice to see him (Johnson) and Vishaul Singh averaging over 50 and I hope they can finish the season as one and two on the list. When asked if he thought the two could possibly earn selections for the West Indies Test, the 37 year-old said, “They’re performing well, but I’m not the selector there but if they perform it’.s, a possibility so I just wish them well.”
Meanwhile, the Jaguars named their 13-man squad ahead of round nine which begins tomorrow with former
West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and all-rounder Chris Barnwell returning to the team.
Chanderpaul, who retired from international cricket a little over a month, missed the last two due matches to his commitments at the Masters Champions League (MCL) T20 tournament and will replace Assad Fudadin. Barnwell, who was on the injured list for the previous two rounds, used the local first division club games to find some form, replaces Robin Bacchus.
With 125 points from eight games, Guyana will look to stay undefeated against the Leewards Hurricanes and also in their final round match at Providence, from March 18 against the Jamaica Scorpions.
Guyana Jaguars Team, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Rajendra Chandrika, Leon Johnson (Capt), Vishaul Singh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Devendra Bishoo, Keon Joseph and Ronsford Beaton Head Coach Esuan Crandon, Rayon Griffith (Assistant Coach/Manager) and Beverley Nelson (Physiotherapist)
