Jaguars need to maximise preparation for a good start– Crandon

With next year’s Regional Four-Day Championship reduced to just five rounds, Guyana Amazon Jaguars Head Coach, Esuan Crandon, wants to make the most of the short period of preparation to ensure the Jaguars can make a winning start in the quest to regain the title.

Jaguars will be playing their first three rounds away from home, with the tournament earmarked to start in February.

It is understood, Jaguars could potentially play their first match against current defending champions, Barbados Pride at the Kensington Oval.

On December 9, the team’s management got the ball rolling with a series of fitness tests and since then they have been limited to mostly indoor sessions at La Bonne Intention Facility, and outdoor when the weather permits.

With preparations being far from the ideal, Coach Crandon is banking on his experienced players and some of the young talents to come good in a bid to regain the title they held for five consecutive years since the Professional Cricket League started in 2014.

“For a good start to the competition we need to maximise our preparation really well; I think when you prepare well you will make the game easier…competition is there and we will try to pick our best team,” he told News Room Sport in a recent interview.

Crandon highlighted that given the short nature of the tournament as opposed to its usual 10 rounds, it is important the team starts well which can give “leverage” and help to build confidence.

“We can’t take anything for granted, we have to put in the work and get the guys prepared,” he added.

Crandon had told News Room Sport he strongly believes it will take a more mental than a technical approach for players to make the switch to the red-ball after the slew of T20 and T10 cricket in recent months.

Additionally, the team’s management is considering the option of playing the first practice match at the Albion Community Centre ground as part of preparations for the upcoming season.