Local youth speedster, Qumar Torrington, is optimistic about his chances of retaining his spot in the Guyana Under-19 team as he looks to bring the heat at the Cricket West Indies Regional tournament in August.
Arguably the fastest youth bowler in the country, Torrington is continuously working on his fitness despite cricket in the country coming to a halt due to the rainy season stepping in.
The Demerara Cricket Club seamer told Stabroek Sport that his preparation, in anticipation of selection, was “coming along good so far,” as he focusses on his fitness and increasing his speed.
Since turning out last year under the Golden Arrowhead, Torrington said his main aim was to improve his consistency and develop more speed to accompany his variations, something which he is confident he has achieved having showcased that in the recent Inter-County under-19 tournament.
He stated that the upcoming tournament will mean a lot to his development as a player since it is his last year at the Under-19 level.
“This tournament means a lot to me since this is my last year at Under-19, so it would be great for me to finish with the most wickets and contribute to my team retaining their title,” Torrington said.
The 18-year-old pointed out that he always holds himself to high standards and is confident in taking at least two five-wicket hauls in the series.
Cognizant of the evolution of cricket, Torrington stated, “these days you can’t just be a bowler, you have to be able to bat and I have been putting in some work with the bat for the past couple of months and I think I will be able to hold my own whenever the opportunity comes and do well for my team.”
Torrington stated that should he do well in this tournament, there is a possibility that he can break into a West Indian set up as well as the local Guyana Jaguars academy, a move he is hopeful of becoming a reality.
The Guyana under-19 squad has not been released for the tournament in which they have won the 50-over format for the last five years in a row.
