Guyana/ Jamaica 4th round clash washed out

Dec 16, 2008 Sports

T&T in line for title with 9-wkt win against L/Wards

Fire pon de pitch! The Jamaican players (wearing shorts) watch the pitch being dried by burning it with fire while some Guyanese (wearing long pants) are also present at the Honeymoon ground yesterday.

By Sean Devers in Trinidad
In association with Igloo Ice Cream,
Pepsi, Smalta, TCL, Demerara
Power Company, Lifetime Reality
& Noble House Seafoods

Rain and inadequate covers prevented any play yesterday in the fourth round Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board 50-overs regional under-17 cricket series between Guyana and Jamaica at the Honeymoon ground just outside the Capitol Port-of-Spain.

The Guyanese practiced on concrete at the outdoor ‘nets’ at the ground as the ground staff worked hard to dry the pitch using gasoline and wood shavings to burn the wet areas.

The sun retuned by mid-day in its glory and the umpires (former Guyana youth cricketer Garfield Hodge and Joel Wilson) informed that play would commence after lunch with the over being reduced.

However, during the lunch session, another sharp shower, which came from over the Hill to the North/East of the ground, resulted in the contest being declared a no-result with both teams collecting a point each.

Guyana head into their final round game against the Leeward Islands at the Queens Park Oval tomorrow with three points from four matches and will hope to end the competition with a consolation victory.

Although Guyana lost their last chance of winning the inaugural competition when they lost to Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday, the South Americans were looking win their last two games and Coach Orin Bailey said yesterday’s wash out was disappointing since he was hoping that his batsmen would have used yesterday’s game to show their true ability.

“These guys (batsmen) are a lot better than they have shown here but I hope that in the future we can see hundreds being scored at the trials and Inter-county competition.

Our young batsmen are often selected on potential alone but in the past you had to make hundreds to play for Guyana and with players now being selected at under-15 and under-17 levels, I think sometimes these guys are making a Guyana team too easy and don’t appreciate the work they need to put if you want to represent your country,” Bailey said.

“Cricket can now give you a very comfortable life but if our young players want to make cricket a career they must understand that they have to show commitment and dedication to their job and be prepared work hard and spend plenty of time improving their game.

I don’t think this is happening with the young generation who although they want to earn millions and be famous from the sport, they don’t eat, drink and sleep cricket as we used to do when we were teenagers,” Bailey, a former Guyana youth batsman, added.

Manager Robert ‘Pacer’ Adonis again stressed the need for more mental preparation for under-15, under-17 and under-19 players since he feels that despite how much talent you posses if you don’t understand the importance of your responsibilities as Guyana cricketers and you are not focused on the right things on tour, you will most like not be successful,” Adonis stated.

Bailey said that pacer Keon Joseph, who returned from the regional under-19 series this year in Barbados with a groin injury, has aggravated that old injury and recommended the Guyana Cricket Board pay urgent attention to this problem when Joseph returns to Guyana.

Skipper Dexter Solomon was passed fit to play yesterday following a shoulder injury sustained while fielding against T&T on Sunday.

“Seon (Daniels) has been our best player so far but he also has to seek medical evaluation when he gets home since his energy level is dropping very quickly after his first spell. A blood test for him has been recommended and I hope he does that quickly when he gets home,” Bailey added.

Joseph was rested for yesterday’s game while talented left-handed batsmen Delon Fernandes who has failed to live up to high expectations, and left-arm spinner Triston Carmichael were the other players left out
Off-spinner Ricardo Devers and opener Quincy Ovid Richardson both came back into the side which beat the Windward Islands but lost to Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago completed a nine-wicket win against the Leeward Islands yesterday to head into their final round game against Barbados as the only unbeaten team and one hand on the Trophy.

Jamaica, whose only loss was to T&T, had to beat Guyana yesterday to go into the final round with a chance of taking championship honors.