Latest update May 14th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 06, 2021 Sports
‘Franchise players to train from this week at LBI indoor nets’
By Sean Devers
Since being appointed National Coach in 2012, 38-year-old former Guyana pacer Esuan Crandon has won five consecutive Regional First-Class titles in the six-year history of CWI’s Professional Cricket League.
The five times defending Champions were dethroned in 2019/2020 tournament by Barbados after it was aborted with two rounds remaining due to the outbreak of the global pandemic in March of 2020.
The Bajans beat Guyana by 235 runs at Providence to take an unassailable lead after eight rounds.
The Guyana Jaguars have resumed preparations and Coach Crandon informed that most of the Academy players, CWI Central contracted players and the Regional contracted players were involved in last week’s sessions at the Providence Stadium.
“We started back training last week but due to the consistent heavy rainfall we were restricted to strength and conditioning work and fielding drills.
We were hoping to get the use of the pitches at the back but that facility will not be available for use next week due to the rain,” said Crandon, who was appointed West Indies Assistant Coach in January 2019 for the home series against England.
The Berbician, who took 90 wickets from 38 First-Class matches with a best of 7-125 against T&T, informed that the Providence Stadium, where the Jaguar’sFranchise players were training, would be closed off from this week due to the rain and preparation for the Pakistan’s matches there.
“They also need time to prepare for the three International T20s between West Indies and Pakistan (July 31 to August 3) so from this week we wouldn’t be training there. We have to revert to the LBI indoors nets and do gym work,” informed Crandon, who captured 29 wickets from 28 List ‘A’ games.
The former left-handed batsman and right-arm pacer, who has 14 wickets and 71 with the bat in 18 T20 games, said he is not aware of any senior regional cricket scheduled for the rest of the year, but revealed there are plans to have three 4-day matches involving the best players in Guyana, sometime in July.
The pandemic is in its second year and Crandon explained the process for the Jaguars return to training.
“We have adopted Cricket West Indies return to outdoor training protocols and guidelines. We started with small groups of four.
Players are not allowed to associate with players from other groups. They have designed areas on arrival at the venue. Players’ temperatures are tested on arrival and they are asked a couple medical questions before commencing training.
Our normal training days are four days per week; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Four players in a group. We utilized the length and breadth of the stadium where groups are separated,” said Crandon who played his last First-Class match in 2011.
Guyana has named their 15-man squad for the next four-day Franchise but Guyanese players outside of those selected can still be picked on a pay-to-play format.
Among the key players who missed last week’s sessions were Skipper Leon Johnson who is expected home tomorrow, pacer Nial Smith and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who were selected in the 30-man Test squad but failed to make the cut when the squad was reduced to 17 and Shimron Hetmyer and Sherfane Rutherford who are in Abu Dhabi participating the Pakistan Super League.
The 24-year-old Hetmyer has been picked in the West Indies T20 Squad, while fellow left-hander 22-year-old Rutherford is not in Guyana’s 15-man squad but could be selected for his Country.
Crandon who also Coached the West Indies Women team, said he thinks that the pair being involved in the PSL could be a good thing.
“I honestly think it’s a good think for both Hetmyer and Rutherford to be playing cricket in the UAE. The more playing time these guys can get at the moment is better,” Crandon posited.
“I’m pleased with the work ethics thus far. The players have all committed to lifting the fitness level and improve their fielding skills,” concluded Crandon who first began Coaching while playing for Rose Hall Youth & Sports Club in Corentyne Berbice.
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