Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 04, 2014 Sports
By Sean Devers
They both won their last First-Class title in 1998 when they shared it with each other and now 16 years after they find themselves facing off in a match of purely Academic interest since both teams can no longer qualify for the semi-finals of this year’s Regional four-day cricket tournament.
When Guyana and the Leeward Islands meet from today at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua it will be a battle of the bottom placed teams with the home side on 25 points and the South Americans ‘dead last’ on the points table with 17 heading into the penultimate round of the seven-team competition.
Guyana, who have to play Trinidad & Tobago in their final match at Providence from next Friday, will be keen to beat the Leewards and climb out of the cellar position.
But it will not be easy since Guyana have batted terribly in the previous four matches and are the only team without a centurion. To compound their woes their most senior batsman, Shiv Chanderpaul has left the team to play in the English County championships.
In addition, according to the GCB, Ramnaresh Sarwan has made no contact with the Board in relation to his back injury even though he called Chairman of Selectors Rayon Griffith about two weeks ago to inform him that he had returned from overseas but gave no update on his injury.
Test batsman Narsingh Deonarine, their second most experienced player has endured a horror season in which he has five ducks among the 13 made by Guyanese this year and has been dropped. Devendra Bishoo, also with Test experience, has lost his place in the side as has one-day Captain Christopher Barnwell.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for a side which negative batting and a selfish approach prompted a senior GBC executive to say ‘the GCB is of the view that the players played as individuals and not as a team’.
Led by Leon Johnson who is playing in only his second match due to an injured knee and who looked the most fluent batsman this season, Guyana, with nothing except their pride to lose, has injected young blood into the side.
Teenagers Taignarine Chanderpaul, fellow West Indies youth player Shemron Hetymer, 20-year-old Chanderpaul Hemraj and the 21-year-old pair of Amir Khan and Ronsford Beaton are all rookies at this level while Keon Joseph and Trevon Griffith are 22 and Ruan Johnson 23, respectively.
At 28, Assad Fudadin, with three Tests to his name is the oldest member of one of the youngest Guyana senior teams in a long time. Zaheer Mohamed is also 28. But Skipper Johnson is banking on the exuberance of his young charges to give Guyana their first win in the tournament while Coach Esaun Crandon feels this is an ideal opportunity for someone to get a hundred.
The usually attacking Griffith could be the perfect foil for young Chanderpaul at the top of the order with Johnson coming at three, Fudadin at four to provide stability, Hemraj at five, Mohamed at six, wicketkeeper Antony Bramble at seven and Veerasammy at eight.
Guyana’s highest total against the Leewards is 547-8 declared in 2006 and if they reproduce that type of score in this match they get five batting points. The visitors should also be reminded that it was only in 2012 that CCC bundled them out for a record low 39 runs.
The Guyana attack will be spearheaded by the lively Beaton and Joseph with medium pace support from Fudadin. The tournament’s leading wicket-taker Permaul, Mohamed, who gets another chance to resurrect his career and leg spinner Khan will lend spin support. Hetymer and Raun Johnson or Joseph could occupy the bench today.
This is the 34th encounter between the sides, each winning nine and losing nine with 15 of the matches ending in draws.
The Leewards lost their last match to the Windwards by 197 runs and their batting will hinge around Test left-hander Kieran Powell, Javier Liburd, Orlando Peters, Devon Thomas, Willett and Akeem Saunder.
The islanders will also hope that Jahmar Hamilton, who scored a century this season is fully fit for today’s encounter. The bulk of their bowling could be done by Gavin Tonge, Kelbert Walters, Tonito Willett and Yannick Leonard.
The Guyanese arrived in Antigua on Tuesday afternoon and with the large Guyanese population on the Island, Guyana teams always get good support when they visit for cricket or football and this team would not want to further disappoint their fans. The game is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs.
The team reads: Leon Johnson (Captain), Assad Fudadin, Amir Khan, Trevon Griffith, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Zaheer Mohamed, Ronsford Beaton, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul (Vice Captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Raun Johnson, Keon Joseph, Chanderpaul Hemraj. The Coach is Esaun Crandon and the Manager is Alvin Johnson.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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