By Akeem Greene
Chairman of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Senior Selection Panel, Ramnaresh Sarwan, has indicated that despite having a core of players to choose from for the Regional Four-Day tournament next year, creditable performances by players could expand the pool from which the selectors will narrow down the final squad.
The Regional Four-Day championship is expected to start in February 2022, after close to a two-year break, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contractual issues mean the Guyana Amazon Jaguars, formerly Guyana Jaguars, are having an unusually late start to their preparation for a regional event.
However, after a fitness test, which is scheduled for Thursday (December 9) at Leonora, players are expected to get to down serious business with Head Coach Esuan Crandon and his new Assistant Ryan Hercules.
Weather permitting, there are practice matches scheduled, and should players put in standout performances, Sarwan is willing to give them the nod.
“In terms of the practice matches and adding persons to the core we are actually looking at (that), they might be somebody who we may not be looking at performing outstandingly and we are open to people who are performing,” he explained at a recent press briefing.
In the selection of the squad for that tournament, which is understood to be just five rounds instead of the usual 10, Sarwan said he is looking for the right balance.
“This is much bigger than the individual performances, this is about us having to find the right balance to ensure that we can win the tournament. I don’t want us to sacrifice a transition where we lose games because I don’t think we are in a bad position, but it is just a matter of trying to find the right balance.”
The former West Indies captain highlighted that at one point, Jaguars had three all-rounders in the team, which is “not truly balanced.”
While the transition is imminent for the Jaguars, the Chairman said it will not come at a cost of losing the tournament.
“The goal is to win the tournament, but most importantly will be to hit the ground running, so preparation will be key. If it is we are going to transition to some of the younger guys and give them an opportunity, it is not sacrificing winning; whoever we are going to bring in they will be more than good enough to perform at a high level.”
He added, “Our objective is to help these guys perform on a more consistent basis; I think winning a tournament [Four-Day] for so many years and not producing players for West Indies is a concern, but if we change it and get these guys in a right mindset, and push them to perform at a very high level.”
Sarwan further stated that during the preparatory period he will be available to assist players in the batting department.
The Chairman did announce that young players- batting all-rounder Matthew Nandu, batsman Kevlon Anderson and wicketkeeper/batsman Tevin Imlach- are on their radar to be part of the Jaguars unit.
At the Professional Players’ draft in May, the Jaguars selected: Kevlon Anderson, Christopher Barnwell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Leon Johnson, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Romario Shepherd, Vishaul Singh, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith, Anthony Bramble, Keon Joseph.
