Latest update April 4th, 2025 6:13 AM
Crandon concerned with ‘thought-process’ of batsmen
As Harpy Eagles get ready to face W/Wards in T&T
By Sean Devers
Kaieteur News – The recently re-named Guyana Harpy Eagles get ready to depart Guyana on February 6 for Trinidad where they will face-off with the Windwards and Leewards in their first two matches of the 2022 Regional four-day cricket tournament.
Coach Crandon and his Assistant Coach Ryan Hercules.
Guyana face the Windwards from February 9-12 and Leewards from February 16-19 at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.
But Head Coach Esuan Crandon is concerned about the thought process of the batsmen.
In the last practice at Providence which finished inside three days, only Chris Barnwell (who is no longer being considered for First-Class cricket) was the only batman to reach a half-century with 66 and added 99 for the ninth wicket with 20-year-old Junior Sinclair (44). The pair joined forces with Leon Johnson’s X1 wobbling on the ropes on 49-8.
Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s 41 was the highest score of any batsman in the match with Keemo Paul’s X1, who won the game by 28 runs, only managing 182 & 174, while Johnson’s X1 were bowled out for 150 & 179 in a bowler-dominated game.
On paper, Guyana has a powerful side and includes Shimron Hetmyer, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Vishaul Singh, Leon Johnson, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie and Keemo Paul, all who have played International cricket for the West Indies.
However, while the bowlers have been impressive, Hetmyer, who made a century in the first trial match in Berbice, missed the next two, including the last one at Providence, on a medical sick leave.
In the last game, batsmen, Skipper Johnson, Hemraj, Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh, Akshaya Persaud, Anthony Bramble and Tevin Imlach, along with all-rounder and Vice-Captain Keemo Paul got starts but none of them went on to score a fifty.
“We have a balance team with loads of experienced players and a couple young players in the mix. I feel this group of players is good enough to win us the championship.
But I am more concerned about the thought process and the way how most of the batters got dismissed,” said the 40-year-old Crandon.
“Ideally you would want the batsmen to spend more quality time in the middle and be prepared to fight hard and long especially during the tough periods,” continued Crandon, who took 90 wickets from 38 First-Class games between 2000 and 2011.
Crandon, who worked as assistant Coach of the West Indies Women’s team, indicated that he saw a little fight from some of the batsmen.
“However, most of them didn’t make good decisions with respect to shot selection.
Both teams failed to bat 75 overs in a single innings in this game and that’s something I am concerned about. We will be working on the same next week,” informed Crandon, who was first appointed Guyana Coach in 2012.
According to Guyana’s most successful First-Class Coach, “The batsmen simply need to place more value on their wickets. They need to be more discipline and patient. We want to see that inner drive and mental toughness that is needed, especially when things gets tough,” Crandon declared.
Nial Smith, Keon Joseph and Clinton Pestano have bowled with pace, while Paul bowled with impressive control and had 4-48 in this trial match with left-arm spinners Motie taking 5-28 while Permaul got 3-51.
“The strength of this team is obviously the bowling. We’ve got a quality fast bowling and spin bowling line up that would trouble any batting line up in first class cricket. I am happy with the production of the bowling unit throughout the practice games,” posited Crandon who captured 7-125 against the Brian Lara led T&T side in South Trinidad.
“The preparation period wasn’t ideal, however I can safely say that we made full use of every opportunity to train and play games. We have another couple days next week to prepare before we depart. We will definitely use them well and ensure everyone benefits from the sessions,” said the Berbician.
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