The Guyana team going through their paces yesterday at the GCC ground, Bourda, in preparation for their clash, with the Leeward Islands at Enmore today. Skipper Neil Mc Garrell is second from left while 16-year-old batting sensation Leon Johnson is at rig
Guyanese will be hoping for an improved performance from the national team as they gohead -to- head against the Leeward Islands from today at Enmore in the fourth round of the Carib Beer regional four-day, first-class cricket competition.
This year the local team has endured their worst start since sponsored regional first-class cricket began in 1966 losing their first three `away' games outright to Barbados, Jamaica and the Windward Islands respectively.
Guyana are the only side without a point after three rounds in the eight-team competition. The Guyanese hope to redeem themselves with a victory on home soil and the national selectors have made some very bold changes to the squad for today's encounter.
Test leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, the Caribbean's fourth leading wicket-taker, batsman Andre Percival and all-rounder Lennox Cush have all been sacked after indifferent performances in the `away' games.
Damodar Daesrath, shockingly not recommended for the West Indies `B' by the Joe Solomon-led national selection panel, has been called up from Trinidad where he was playing club cricket.
President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Chetram Singh yesterday visited the Guyana team at net sessions at Bourda and took the opportunity to rap with new vice-captain Travis Dowlin. (Lawrence Fanfair photo)
He should make his regional first-class debut today after playing a solitary first-class match against India in 2002.
Left-arm spinner Hem-narine Harrinarine, also with one first-class game but none at the regional level, teenage off-spinning all-rounder Za-heer Mohamed and gifted 16-year-old GCC batsman Leon Johnson have also been called up for this game as the selectors bank on young blood to turn things around for the team which appeared to lack commitment and fight in the first three games.
Guyana, the defending Red Stripe Bowl champions, will again be led by Neil McGarrell, the only player with test experience in the side and one of the few players in the 2004 team who seemed to appreciate what it means to represent their country.
Sewnarine Chattergoon and his opening partner Krishna Arjune have batted well this season without going on to convert fifties into centuries and a lot will depend on them to give Guyana a solid start on what should be a familiar low and slow home track.
The talented Narsingh Deonarine had a well put together half-century in Jamaica and a century or two in the remaining matches could enhance his chances of becoming Albion's second test player when England tour the region next month.
Travis Dowlin, another player who is always committed to his team's cause, has been appointed vice-captain and seems to have regained his form and confidence. The DCC right-hander should be among the runs in this game.
Today, Johnson, a St. Roses' High school student, could join Ramnaresh Sarwan as schoolboy batsmen to make their first-class debuts for Guyana in the last decade. Twenty-one year-old Daesrath and 18-year-old Mohamed could also make their regional debuts today.
McGarrell, who has showed good form with the bat, 'keeper Vishal Nagamootoo who played well in the last game, could also contribute with the bat for Guyana.
Eusan Crandon and Rayon Griffith should share the new ball and both are useful batsmen which gives the Guyana batting dept.
Griffith had a six-wicket haul against the Windwards and along with Crandon and the left-arm spin of McGarrell, should do the bulk of the bowling for the home team with support from medium pacer Daesrath and Mohamed and Deonarine's off-spin.
Daesrath is a batting all-rounder which means that Reon Thomas and Harrinarine could be the two men on the bench today for the home team.
The Leewards, who made 718-7 against Kenya this year to break Guyana's 37-year-old record of the highest total in regional first class cricket, will be looking for another massive score in this game since they are only on nine points following their defeat by West Indies `B' in the last round.
Stuart Williams, Sylvester Joseph and Carl Tuckett all scored centuries in the Kenya game and with support from Shane Jeffers, opener Alex Adams, Tonito Willett and Wilden Cornwall, who have all scored half-centuries in the competition, the Leewards are confident of making a big score.
Skipper Williams told Stabroek Sport yesterday afternoon that when you look at his team you might say that the strength is the batting but he added that with Adam Sanford back and Kerry Jeremy in the side the Leewards has the ability to bowl out any Caribbean side.
"Sanford has strengthened our bowling while left-arm spinner Virgel Browne can cause some problems on the pitches here," Williams said.
"We a good all round side but in this year's competition we have been hot and cold and we always start slow due to not enough preparation. We are confident of doing well and we have to do well because we need the points," the former West Indies opener stated.
Williams, who has the most centuries in regional first class cricket, added that he was pleased to see some of the younger player like Joseph, who has been around for sometime now, getting a big hundred this season.
While the Leewards will bank a lot on pace, Williams said that the Enmore track, which is expected to be slow, should not be a big worry for his team.
Most of the tracks in the Caribbean are now on the slow side and I don't think the guys will have problems adjusting to one here. If you bowl with discipline on any track and you are consistent you should do well," the attacking right-hander stated.
A keen contest is anticipated as this will be a last ditch effort from both sides to collect maximum points from this game to keep their chances of making the semi-finals alive.
The action starts at 10:00am and a good-size crowd is anticipated to flock the Enmore ground, especially if Mohamed, the East Coast boy, makes his first class debut.