Dowlin to lead Guyana in Canada this weekend : Deonarine, McGarrell included

Jun 21, 2008 Sports

By Sean Devers
National middle order batman Travis Dowlin will lead the Guyana senior side which will participate in the Guyana Independence Festival Celebrity Cricket Match today and tomorrow at the L’Amoreaux Cricket Ground in Scarborough, Canada.

The team departed Guyana yesterday, left-handed batsman Narsingh Deonarine and left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell are the players with Test experience in the 12-man squad which will be coached and Managed by former Guyana first-class batsman Rabindranauth Seeram.

A Guyana team plays every year in the annual event as a part of the South American county’s Independence celebrations. Guyana celebrated their 42nd Independence anniversary on May 26.

The 31-year-old Dowlin, who has scored 13 fifties and four centuries from 62 first-class matches since making his debut in 1997 in Grenada said he was confident the team will do well although many of the senior players, including West Indies players Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sewnarine Chattergoon are unavailable.

The 24-year-old Deonarine, who played the last of his four Tests in Sri Lanka three years ago, has scored four tons and 21 fifties from 63 first-class games and will be aiming to do well to start his journey back to International cricket.

Deonarine, who averages 33.91 at the first class level, was playing cricket in the USA where he was recovering from a back injury which he aggravated during the last Stanford 20/20 series in Antigua.

McGarrell who turns 36 next month has played four Tests and taken scored 12 half-centuries and taken 276 wickets from 84 first class matches and like Deonarine and 33-year-old Lennox Cush, will join the team from the USA where they are playing professionally.

The genuinely quick 20-year-old Brandon Bess, who played two first class matches this season, gets his first trip outside of the region and will share the fast bowling duties with Trevon Garraway, Esuan Crandon and Rayon Griffith.

Dion Ferrier, Wicketkeeper batsman Derwin Christian and Royston Crandon, who scored a regional One-Day century on debut against the Windward Islands last year, are the other batsmen in the team.

The 46-year-old Seeram, who scored four tons and 12 fifties and averaged 35.03 from his 41 first-class matches between 1983 and 1992, still plays at the first division level in Guyana and will play this weekend if necessary.

The team: Travis Dowlin (Captain), Royston Crandon, Lennox Cush, Dion Ferrier, Derwin Christian, Esuan Crandon, Neil McGarrell, Brendon Bess, Trevon Garraway, Narsingh Deonarine, Rayon Griffith, Rabindranauth Seeram (Manager/Coach/Player).