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Braithwaite is Guyana’s biggest threat
Dexter Solomon
Kraig Braithwaite
By Sean Devers in Trinidad
In association with Igloo Ice Cream,
Pepsi, Smalta, TCL, Demerara
Power Company, Lifetime Reality
& Noble House Seafoods
An eager bunch of young cricketers still learning their trade will hope to give their country glory today when Guyana battle Barbados at Gilbert Park in the opening round of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s (TTCB) 50-overs regional under-17 cricket series.
The Guyana side, with just one surviving member from last year’s first ever under-17 team, had their first practice session yesterday and Coach Orin Bailey is confident that if his charges play to their full potential they should be successful on what is expected to be a slow track with some early assistance for the pacers.
While the two practice matches planned for the Guyana team during their 10-day camp in Georgetown were both washed out and Barbados climaxed their preparation with a game against the touring Australian under-17 side, the big difference between the two sides today could be prolific West Indies under-15 and Barbados undr-19 opener Kraig Braithwaite.
The rock solid right-hander, who just turned 16, dominated this year’s West Indies under-15 tournament before copping the best batsman award in the last under-15 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Braithwaite has a Shivnarine Chanderpaul-like temperament and scored an impressive century against Guyana in the under-19 series in Barbados last July.
If he gets ‘stuck in’ today he could be Guyana’s biggest threat as the South Americans look for a winning start to their 2008 campaign.
TTCB President and former West Indies Captain Derrick Murray explained that this tournament is being played as a developmental competition for the youngsters who aspire to play for the West Indies, adding that it matters not who wins but how much the players would have learned about the game and improved mentally at the end of the one-week event.
Guyana has a talented team and arguably the best bowling attack in the competition. If the teenagers can develop the mental strength and understand the importance of representing their county, Guyana should be one of the teams to watch.
National under-19 pacer Keon Joseph should be the quickest bowler in the competition and along with Seon Daniels and left-arm swing bowler Andre Stoll Guyana has one of its better pace attacks at youth level in recent times.
Once he remains focused Ricardo Devers should enjoy the pitches here with his big-turning off-breaks, and in tandem with talented West Indies under-15 leg spinner Amir Khan should cause problems for the batsmen. Left-arm spinner Trinson Carmichael and batting all-rounder Joemal LaFleur could lend spin support if required.
With the out-of-form but very talented Harrinarine Chattergoon left out of the side, the batting could be Guyana’s main worry and a lot will depend on the start they get from attacking opener Quincy Ovid-Richardson and Herell Greene.
Ovid-Richardson is expected to ‘take on’ the Bajan pacers with the more composed Greene playing the supporting role.
Delon Fernandes (arguably the team’s best batsman), Cinton Pestano, Jomally Odle, Skipper Dexter Solomon and all-rounder Stoll, who played at this level last year, will also want to contribute with the bat.
The Guyanese could be tempted to use their extra spinner against Barbados but if they select their best bowling attack then all three of their pacers should play.
Carmichael, La Fleur and Dayanand Roopnarine could be the ones on the bench today but since this competition is about development, each member of the squad should be allowed to play before the six-team tournament concludes on December 17.
Solomon has shown a very level head as leader so far and his work behind the stumps and with the bat could also be critical ingredients if Guyana are the get the better of a Barbados side which includes four players who played in this year’s regional under-19 series in Barbados.
Braithwaite, skipper and pacer Jason Holder, off-spinner Roston Chase and Dario Cummings are the players with under-19 experience in the Barbados team and much is expected of them today.
Guyana-born journalist and former West Indies under-19 team Manager Brij Parsanauth provided the Guyana team with an inspiring motivational speech at the team’s hotel yesterday afternoon and the South Americans expressed confidence that they will be successful in this tournament which also involves host Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands.
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