By Akeem Greene
The Guyana Amazon Jaguars got down to business on Thursday by conducting the first set of fitness tests to ascertain players’ readiness ahead of the scheduled start of the Regional Four-Day Championship in February 2022.
Held at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora, the players did a Yo-Yo Test in which the minimum standard of 40 was required, then a 40m sprint, which they needed to complete in less than 5.8 seconds.
News Room Sport was present for both early morning activities, and noticeably, several young players, and some senior lads, failed to meet the required 40 mark on the Yo-Yo Test.
The Yo-Yo test is a maximal aerobic endurance fitness test, involving running between markers placed 20 meters apart, at increasing speeds, until exhaustion.
Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chairman of Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Senior Selection Panel, has informally advised that the minimum standard be raised to 45.
It comes on the heels of several Guyanese players being overlooked for West Indies selection for failing to meet the required 40 on the Yo-Yo test.
In an invited comment on Thursday, re-appointed Head Coach Esuan Crandon indicated that there are mixed feelings about the session since some players would have regressed from the previous test in July, but on the other hand, it was a needed exercise to lay the groundwork ahead of the regional tournament.
Given the prevailing weather condition, Crandon pointed out that they will utilise the indoor facility at the Chetram Singh Centre of Excellence at LBI, East Coast Demerara, to zone in on skill set training.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed Assistant Coach Ryan Hercules indicated that in helping the players who failed to reach the required standards, the key is building the core on one’s body via strength and conditioning, and most importantly doing personal fitness work.
Hercules added that when persons are physically fit, it promotes a stronger mental side which would allow greater consistency on the field of play.
While no definitive date for the commencement of the Championship has been made public as yet, Jaguars’ first three matches will be away from home, and the final two will be at the National Stadium, Providence.
