TCL Regional U-19 series bowls off on July 9

Jun 17, 2009 Sports

Guyana begin 2-week encampment Friday

By Sean Devers

The Guyana 20-man squad preparing for this year’s regional Under-19 cricket series in Jamaica from July 9, begin a one-week encampment in the city from Friday and the 14-man touring party is expected to be announced shortly.

Hubern Evans

The squad has been focusing on physical work during the weekend camps and a three-day practice game is scheduled to start on Tuesday.

Guyana last won the three-day title in St Kitts two years ago, but have never lifted the one-day title, losing the 2007 final to Jamaica. Berbice wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble, in his second year at this level, is tipped to be named Captain and the squad could include four fast bowlers, if the selectors pick ‘horses for courses’ as Guyana aim to take their 12th title since winning their first under Timor Mohamed’s leadership in 1975.

Guyana face the Leeward Island from July 9 at the Jamaica Defence Force (JDG) ground at Up Park Camp in their opening match before taking on Jamaica at Sabina Park from July 13.

The Guyanese then oppose the Windward Islands from July 17 at Chedwin Park before taking on Barbados from July 21 at Jamalco. Guyana play their final three-day match against Trinidad and Tobago at Eleston Road from July 25.

After a two-day break, the One-Day series commences on July 30 when Guyana face-off with the Leeward Islands at Chedwin Park. Two days later they play the Windward Islands at Eleston Road, before battling Barbados at Chedwin Park on August 2. Guyana then face Jamaica at Melbourne on August 4, before playing their final game the next day against Trinidad and Tobago at Eleston Road.

Anthony Bramble

The team with the most points will be declared winners in both competitions since unlike last year in Barbados, no One-Day final will be played.

The tournament was last played in Jamaica in 2004 and Guyana are scheduled to depart on July 7.

Nine players eligible from last year’s competition are in the 20-man squad but there was some concern about the fitness of two of them, along with Essequibo pacer Ronsford Beaton who bowled with an ankle injury during the Under-19 Inter-County tournament.

Opening batsman Jeetendra Sookdeo (back) and pacer Keon Joseph (groin) are the other players who were carrying injuries, but Coach Evans informed yesterday that all three players are fully fit.

“Most of the guys began a bit slowly in terms of fitness but improved as the weeks went by. I am satisfied with the general fitness level now,” Evans explained.

The 53-year-old Evans, who played 2 first-class matches for Guyana, said the emphasis will now be on batting and bowling since a lot of physical work was done during the weekend stints.

“I want 2 three-day practice matches since the guys have played a lot of one-day cricket this year. I hope the weather holds, so that we can have some turf practice to iron out the little technical flaws,” Evans said.

Coach since 2004, Evans feels the spin bowling department (traditionally Guyana strength) is not as strong as in recent years but is very impressed with the five pacers in the squad.

“I would be tempted to take four pacers and the problem could be which one to leave out. Joseph and Fraser played last year while (Seon) Daniels, (Andre) Stoll and Beaton are all very talented. I think it is a good headache to have when you can’t decide who to leave out instead of searching for someone to pick,” the Berbician Evans opined.

Stoll’s batting ability and to a lesser extent that of Joseph could allow for the fourth fast bowler to be picked, something that has never happened since 1987 when Colwin Cort, Linden Joseph, Barrington Brown and David Fingal were selected for the trip to Jamaica.

The toss up for the final fast bowling spot could be between the experienced Fraser and the genuinely quick Beaton.

Dexter Solomon, Sahadeo Somai, Anthony Adams, Rajendra Naikbarran and Ryan Rajmangal could be the other unlucky players.

The probable Guyana squad

Anthony Bramble (Captain), Trevon Griffith, Jeetendra Sookdeo, Harrell Greene, Seon Hetmyer, Alex Amsterdam, Royston Alkins, Jonathon Foo, Andre Stoll, Imran Khan, Totaram Bishun, Seon Daniels, Keon Joseph, Ronsford Beaton.

Fixtures:

Three-Day competition

July:

Round 1

Thurs. 9th Barbados versus Windward Islands at Chedwin Park

Fri. 10th Guyana versus Leeward Islands – Up Park Camp

Sat. 11th Trinidad & Tobago versus Jamaica – Kensington

Round 2

Mon. 13th Guyana versus Jamaica – Sabina Park

Tues. 14th Barbados versus Leeward Islands – Eleston Road

Wed. 15th Windward Islands versus Trinidad &Tobago – Jamaica Broilers

Round 3

Fri. 17th Leeward Islands versus Jamaica – Melbourne

Sat. 18th Trinidad & Tobago versus Barbados – Up Park Camp

Sun. 19th Guyana versus Windward Islands – Chedwin Park

Round 4

Tues. 21st Jamaica versus Windward Islands – Jamaica Broilers

Wed. 22nd Trinidad & Tobago versus Leeward Islands – Sabina Park

Thurs. 23rd Guyana versus Barbados – Jamalco

Round 5

Sat. 25th Jamaica versus Barbados – Kensington

Sun. 26th Trinidad & Tobago versus Guyana – Eleston Road

Mon. 27th Leeward Islands versus Windward Islands – Melbourne

Tues. 28th Rest/Practice — Development Workshop (All Teams)

One-Day tournament

Thurs. 30th: Windward Islands versus Barbados – Kensington

Leeward Islands versus Guyana – Chedwin Park

Jamaica versus Trinidad & Tobago – Up Park Camp

August Sat. 1st: Jamaica versus Leeward Islands – Jamalco

Barbados versus Trinidad & Tobago – Melborne

Windward Islands versus Guyana – Eleston Road

Sun. 2nd: Windward Islands versus Jamaica – Up Park Camp

Leeward Islands versus Trinidad & Tobago – Kensington

Barbados versus Guyana – Chedwin Park

Tues. 4th: Jamaica versus Guyana – Melbourne

Leeward Islands versus Barbados – Jamaica Broilers

Trinidad & Tobago versus Windward Islands – Sabina Park

Wed. 5th: Barbados versus Jamaica – Sabina Park

Guyana versus Trinidad & Tobago – Eleston Road

Leeward Islands versus Windward Islands – Up Park Camp

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