Five-time defending Professional Cricket League (PCL) champions, Guyana Jaguars yesterday morning departed local shores for Antigua where they will begin their hunt for a record-setting sixth consecutive title.
Their opening round match up will be a pink ball day/night encounter against Leeward Islands Volcanoes from Thursday to Sunday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Jaguars have undoubtedly been the most consistent side since the double round robin formatted tournament began with the 2014/2015 season but has been troubled by Volcanoes who handed them three of their six losses in the last five years.
Nevertheless, Jaguars will take satisfaction in sticking to a core of players with experience winning consistently while introducing new comers frequently.
Eight players feature in the current side from their first PCL-winning unit while two players are poised to make their First-Class debuts.
Leading the way for the title holders are spin-twins, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo who together have 868 First-Class wickets under their belt. But while 34-year-old leg-spinner, Bishoo has not featured in the Jaguars unit a lot recently due to West Indies duties, his left-arm partner has racked up the most wickets by a Jaguars bowler for the last five seasons with 240 scalps.
What has set the Jaguars apart from the other teams is their fast-bowling all-rounders but with the absence of Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul and Clinton Pestano, big shoes are left to be filled.
However, the side will feel confident in the abilities of Christopher Barnwell and Raymon Reifer who have done the job over the years.
Since 2014, Reifer has returned 102 wickets while Barnwell has 42 scalps under his belt. They will welcome the return of Keon Joseph and newbie, Nial Smith. Joseph is two wickets short of 100 while Smith has impressed with his express pace.
With the bat, Reifer and Barnwell average 29.4 and 28.5 in the PCL. They complement the consistency among the Jaguars’ leading batsmen, centered around Captain Leon Johnson, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Anthony Bramble, Chandrapaul Hemraj and Vishaul Singh.
Singh (38.9), Johnson (33.5) and Bramble (31.8) have featured since the inaugural tournament and averages in the 30s with over 2000 runs each.
Chanderpaul, on the other hand, has played four seasons and has an average of 34.65 while Hemraj, who turned out for the last three seasons averages 33.28.
Together, the top six looks formidable and with the inclusion of off-spinning all-rounder Kevin Sinclair, both the spin department and batting can be complemented while Tevin Imlach adds a second wicket-keeping option along with Bramble and a batsman capable of playing anywhere in the line-up.
Coupled with the former number one Test batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul serving as Assistant Coach alongside Head Coach, Esaun Crandon as well as Neil Barry Jr., in his capacity as physiotherapist, the unit will give their opposition much to talk about in the dressing room.
