Rain affect 1st TCL Under-19 practice match

Jun 25, 2009 Sports

Bramble relying on input from senior players
By Sean Devers
In his second year at this level, Guyana Under-19 Captain Anthony Bramble said he is relying on the input of his senior players to ensure success in this year’s TCL regional cricket series, which starts on July 9 in Jamaica.
The right-handed Berbice wicketkeeper, who scored one half-century and had 18 dismissals in last year’s competition in Barbados, told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that despite the lack of turf practice due to the adverse weather, he was confident that Guyana can do well in Jamaica.
“Most of the guys have played for Guyana already and understand three-day cricket. The players seem mentally and physically ready and our preparation is going well although the rain is preventing us from having bowling and batting sessions,” the 18-year-old Bramble informed.
Bramble says he enjoys captaincy since it keeps him in the game and gives him confidence and feels that while both the batting and bowling is strong this year, he thinks the fast bowling department is the strongest Guyana has produced since he began following youth cricket. Bramble was not even born last time Guyana selected four fast bowlers in a national youth (1987 in Jamaica) team and the Skeldon player says that most of the guys are fit and team spirit high.

National under-19 Skipper Anthony Bramble (centre) discusses strategy with his Manager Alvin Johnson (left) and Coach Huburn Evans yesterday at the Guyana Cricket Board Hostel.

The squad, under coach, Hubern Evans and Manager Alvin Johnson had an impromptu discussion on general aspects of cricket yesterday afternoon, after the first day of their scheduled three-day practice match at the Police ground was washed out and all of the players said they learnt a lot from the discussions, which also included input from a former Guyana youth player Sean Devers, who provided suggestions and advice especially to the spinners in the squad.
Bramble said that he is looking to Jonathon Foo, Seon Hetmyer, Trevon Griffith, Keon Joseph, Totaram Bishun and Vice-Captain Royston Alkins to lead by example in Jamaica, since they all have already been exposed at this level.
Foo and Bishun will be in their third year at the regional Under-19 level.
While Bramble says preparations are going well he is hoping for improved weather today to facilitate play in their practice match, which has now been extend to Saturday.

“We have concentrated mainly on fitness and we had a few short knocks. I am really hoping that the rain stops, since it is very important that we get in some actual cricket before we leave. Batting and bowling practice is crucial for any cricket team despite how fit the players are since we are going to play cricket and even if we can’t get turf practice because of the weather I hope we can at least get a few practice sessions on one of the tarmacs with the concrete balls,” Bramble said.
While Guyana has won the three-day title 11 times since taking their first in 1975, the South Americans have never won the One-Day crown, although they lost to Jamaica in the 2007 final in St Kitts.
“I think we don’t do as well in One-Day cricket as we do in three-day matches because we tend to focus more on 3-day cricket during preparations leading up to the competition. We have set 2 three-day practice games, but the guys have been playing a lot of One-Day cricket this year at the club level and if we play to our full potential I believe we have the ability to adjust to the One-Day format and put up a strong fight,” Bramble said.
Griffith, Evans and Johnson share the view that three-day cricket more suit our players, while Griffith pointed out that the batsmen seem not able to switch from three-day cricket to the more attacking style required for the One-Day competition.

“I think sometimes our batsmen are too defensive and maybe even a bit timid, which affect our one-day performance. The guys have the talent and good techniques but maybe mentally our batsmen are not positive enough in the limited overs game and even though they are hard to dismiss they don’t score as quickly, as say the Leeward Islands or Jamaicans,” Evans opined.
The importance of ‘Team cricket’ was emphasised during the discussion and Johnson reminded his charges they are representing their country and even those not on the field are a part of the team.
“Team work is important on and off the field and we all have to play as one if we want to win. There is no room for selfish players in a team sport and the better the team does the easier it becomes for the players of that team to catch the eyes of the spectators and selectors,” Johnson stated.
A West Indies team will be selected from this tournament, which ends on August 5 to participate in the next Under-19 World Cup in Kenya next year and this should be an added incentive for the players to give of their best in Jamaica.

Bramble said everyone is looking forward to the cricket after training really hard over the last few weeks and apart from being only the second Guyanese wicketkeeper to lead the team to championship honours, he wants to score heavily and get at least 20 dismissals to win a place on the West Indies team.
“I am hoping to break into the Berbice and Guyana senior team and even make the Guyana 20/20 team this year if I can dominate in Jamaica and get picked for the Youth World Cup,” Bramble said.
The team will break camp on July 2 and depart Guyana on July 7. Guyana face the Leeward Island in their opening match on July 9 at the Jamaica Defence Force ground at Up Park Camp in Kingston.