Following the Guyana Jaguars’ final warm-up match on Friday at the Enmore Community Centre ground, skipper Leon Johnson has said that the two practice matches were “decent preparation.”
“I think it was decent preparation especially in the second game. We were put under a lot of pressure by the rest team,” Johnson said.
The 32-year-old admitted, “There is some work to be done in terms of our bowling. I think we conceded too many extras especially in the second game at Enmore where we conceded 289 runs…that was too much.”
In that match, Jaguars were bowled out for 190 in pursuit of 289. The out-of-favour West Indies left-hander felt the side had a good run with the bat in the first warm-up match, posting 280 in 45 overs, but sensed, “there is room for improvement but we have a lot of seasoned players and I know they will bring their experience come Thursday and throughout the tournament.”
The side will see nine players returning from last season and the inclusion of two new faces, Kemol Savory and Nial Smith, as well as two who have been recalled in the form of Ronsford Beaton and Jonathan Foo.
On these inclusions, Johnson stated, “I think these guys have earned their spot on the team. Savory has been consistent for a couple of years now, in club and franchise cricket, same as Smith who has come in. He has bowled with genuine pace on these flat wickets in Guyana and it is good to welcome back Beaton with his experience and Jonathan Foo who has done well enough to get into the side. These guys haven’t played for a while but are experienced players.”
Guyana is missing four key players in the side, notably Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, all of whom have joined the West Indies to play Afghanistan.
Johnson congratulated the players on their outstanding performances that allowed them to be selected at the highest level and indicated that he doesn’t feel it is a blow for Guyana but rather an opportunity for those now selected for the Guyana team to stake their claim.
“Players have performed well to get onto the West Indies team and for these guys coming in, it is an opportunity to stake their claim because they haven’t played for a while in the case of Beaton and Foo, and the newcomers would want to play not just this tournament but other tournaments for Guyana. So looking at these four guys that have come in, in a positive way it is an opportunity for them to make their mark,” he said.
Guyana will depart for Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow and will begin their campaign on Thursday against West Indies Emerging Players.
