After numerous fitness drills and indoor sessions, the Guyana Harpy Eagles get down to business on the field when the first of two practice matches commence Saturday at the National Stadium, Providence, from 09:30h.
Head Coach Ryan Hercules, wants to see players adapt to the conditions and most importantly, the batsmen construct solid innings in the Four-Day match.
It is likely this first match will act as a major baseline for selection to the Harpy Eagles’ 13-man squad for the first round of the Regional Four-Day that starts February 1.
Harpy Eagles face defending champions Barbados Pride in Antigua then travel to Grenada to face Windward Volcanoes at the National Stadium from February 8.
The tournament will then have a break and resume on March 15 and run until April 1 for the final three rounds, which will be played in Trinidad and Tobago.
The second practice is scheduled for January 19-22 but with the Eagles set to depart about seven days after, it puts the onus on players to have good performances in the first match given there are about five-six spots up for the taking due to the unavailability of key players.
“The guys have been away from Four-Day cricket for a while, so adaptability given the surface will not be one of the best due to the weather patterns we have been having, it will be a soft surface. It is to see how the guys will make the best of whatever is offered to us once we get to play cricket and they have constructive cricket, scoring runs and batting in partnerships”, the Head Coach expressed.
Though preparation has been severely affected by the inclement weather, Hercules still found the positives of the players’ fitness steadily improving.
The teams for the practice match:
Veerasammy Permaul XI: Veerasammy Permaul (captain), Mathew Nandu, Tevin Imlach, Kevlon Anderson, Akshaya Persaud, Rampertab Ramnauth, Shamar Yearwood, Junior Sinclair, Ashmead Nedd, Ronsford Beaton, Isai Thorne, Nial Smith, Richie Looknauth, Garfield Benjamin
Tagenarine Chanderpaul XI: Tagenarine Chanderpaul (captain), Kemol Savory, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Mavindra Dindyal, Anthony Bramble, Kevin Sinclair, Alvin Mohabir, Gudakesh Motie, Antony Adams, Shamar Joseph, Sylus Tyndall, Demetri Cameron, Jonathan Rampersaud, Zynul Ramsammy
