Guyana focus on mental preparation ahead of clash with Windwards today

Aug 01, 2009 Sports

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By Sean Devers in Jamaica In association with Digicel, TCL,
Western Union, Pepsi, Smalta,Demerara Power Company & Michelle
Playter’s Modeling Agency

Guyana come up against the Windward Islands – the only team they beat in the 3-Day competition – today at the Police ground in the City in the 2nd round of the TCL Regional One-Day competition.
The Windwards, who lost to Barbados in their opening game on Thursday, was the team below Guyana in the 3-Day points standing and the Guyanese, who lost to the Leewards in their first game on Thursday are keen for a win today to stay in contention for their first ever One-Day title.
“We are the most successful 3-day team in this competition and we played really badly in the 3-day version. We have to salvage some pride by doing well in the One-Day. I think we have the talent but we are not putting it together. We have now put pressure on ourselves by losing on Thursday to win all of our next four games if we hope to at least return home with one trophy,” Manager Alvin Johnson said yesterday. While the South American lads have been troubled by the devastating heat here, so have all of the other teams (Jamaicans have informed that this is one of the hottest summers in a long time here) and the excuse of getting acclimatized, the lack of match practice in Guyana are no longer excuses since the team has played 16 days of cricket since July 9.
With today’s clash being of vital importance to their title hopes, the Guyanese did not practice at all yesterday, instead using the entire morning for mental preparation before being allowed to relax in the afternoon.
“We have tried all sorts of things to improve and after our loss on Thursday we had a long team meeting the same evening at which the Coach (Hubern Evans) and I were very straight up with the players about their performances. It was also arranged that the players would have their own meeting this (yesterday) morning to discuss what they need to do and what the Management team might not be doing,” Johnson told Kaieteur Sport yesterday.
“We told the players that we wanted everyone to be open about how they feel about what the Coach and Manager are doing and assured them that nothing said would be used against anyone,” Johnson explained.
The Manger spoke off the record of several of the things discussed and stated that role of the Captain as a leader, the management team as motivators, the attitude of the senior players and general team spirit were focal discussion points.
Johnson disclosed that the players and Coach have agreed that the batting order will again be reshuffled for today’s match while Guyana could go into the game with all of their batsmen and just two fast bowlers.
While the bowlers did a good job against the Leewards, the poor shot selection and a lack of any apparent urgency at the crease by the batsmen badly let Guyana down as they chased 198 to win from 50 overs and lost by 25 runs.
Although Alex Amsterdam batted very well for 55 he threw his wicket away instead of batting through the innings and the top order seemed ‘in another world’ as Guyana slumped to 36-6 before Amsterdam and Seon Hetmyer (37) added 106 for the 6th wicket.
“We really need to bat well and with none of the pitches here expected to have much preparation moisture and much real pace, we are hoping to bat first and give our bowlers a total to defend since we feel our tight bowling attack is our strength,” Coach Evans informed.
With several steady if not penetrative part time spinners in the side, Seon Daniels, who seem to be having some problems with his fitness, could be replaced by batsman Herrell Greene today with Totaram Bishun and Ronsford Beaton the other players on the bench.
Evans said he is hoping for a solid foundation at the top of the order and a big score from Trevon Griffith who is the team’s leading batsman and a favorite with many fans here.
Amsterdam and Hetmyer batted well on Thursday while Skipper Anthony Bramble, Jeetendra Sookdeo and the highly talented but hugely disappointing Jonathon Foo will need to contribute.
Since Guyana seem set to pack the team with as much batting power as possible, Vice Skipper Royston Alkins could escape being dropped after displaying uninspiring cricket, especially in the field.
How many more long spells the lanky Andre Stoll can produce is also critical since he was troubled by cramps after the bowing 10 economical overs on the trot for the first time in his life when he took 2-32 on Thursday. Keon Joseph will again need to bowl with fire and while he is presently ‘icing’ a hamstring problem regularly, his fitness for today is not a major concern. Greene also has a niggling groin injury while most of the players are a bit jaded from the conditions here.
Sunil Ambris, Kaveem Hodge and Skipper Dalton Polius could be Guyana’s main threat with the bat while Polius’s off-spin could be Guyana biggest headache when they bat.
Spinners Amsterdam and Antony Adams along with Sookdeo, Griffith and possibility Hetmyer, will need to support new ball pair Joseph and Stoll to restrict the scoring.
There is the prospect of some rain today and if the Duckworth/Lewis system has to be implemented it could add more drama to a match that Guyana must win to remain in the race for the title.

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