‘All 15 players eligible for selection in T&T’ – Johnson

Feb 04, 2022 Sports

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Harpy Eagles ready for Windwards next Wednesday

By Sean Devers

Kaieteur News – The Guyana Harpy Eagles have named a strong 15-man squad which includes seven players with International experience to begin their Regional First-Class campaign for a 12th title in Trinidad were they play their first two games, starting with the Windwards Volcanoes next Wednesday.

The squad is scheduled to depart from T&T on Sunday and Leon Johnson, Guyana most successful Captain at this level; winning five consecutive titles, informed that he was confident ahead of Guyana’s opening game.
The squad has 15 players as opposed to the usual 13 due the Covid, but Johnson confirmed that everyone would be eligible for selection.
“We had a few sessions to fine tune things with the last one being today. When we arrive in Trinidad we will have net sessions on Monday and Tuesday before the first game.
So I am backing the guys to use their experience.
We are using the Everest ground for training and fielding drills, while we had net sessions on the pitch which was very good because of U-19 World Cup matches here,” informed Johnson, who has played 117 First-Class games which includes nine Tests.
“In terms of the trial games, the batting has been disappointing. In the first game in Berbice when everybody had just come back from playing no red ball cricket in a long time, that was the best score with the game ending in a draw.
The other two games finished inside two days which was very disappointing from a captain’s point of view. The batters should have shown more application.
But looking at the final 15 chosen, in the batting we have a lot of experience there and we are banking on them coming good,” added Johnson, the only Guyanese to score a double at Regional U-19 level.

Johnson says the team is a very good all round side with several two and three-dimensional players and that has been the strength over the last few seasons.
“Our bowling has been very good; our fielding has been very good, our batting could have been better in terms of consistency. I think it should be easier to be consistent this season since the tournament is only five rounds from the 10 rounds in the past.
Once you start well it is easier to maintain that form since it is over a shorter period,” said Johnson, who informed that there will be no Quarantine in Trinidad since the players have the approved vaccines and booster shots.
All of the players are ‘fit’ (no injuries) and ready and Johnson give an update on Shimron Hetymer, who missed the last two trials on a medical sick leave, saying the Berbician was at the practice sessions from Tuesday and has fully recovered.
Johnson says he has no knowledge of what the pitch in Trinidad would be like, “Usually the pitch at the Queen’s Park Oval has a bit of grass and usually turn a bit on the third and fourth day.”
He is confident that Guyana will start well since their record against the Windwards in the last six seasons and 11 First-Class games, is nine wins, a tie at Providence and a draw.
“So yes I am pretty confident but they are a good team so we won’t be taking them for granted. Personally, I have done well against the Windwards over the years and in my last game against them I scored 189 not out,” said Johnson who has six tons and 39 fifties in First-Class cricket.
Some question why are there three left-arm spinners and no off-spinner in the squad.
Veerasammy Permaul and Gudakesh have International Cricket and are automatic picks, while the other specialist left-arm spinner in the squad is Essequibian Anthony Adams who has played a solitary First-Class match.

“Addy (Anthony Adams) full deserves his place. He has been getting wickets for a long time at all levels and was very impressive in Trials where he had a five-wicket haul. So yes he has done enough to earn his place in the side,” explained Johnson, the fifth Guyana Captain to win the title after Kanhai, Lloyd, Roger Harper and Hooper.
When asked if he still harbours thoughts of a Test recall Johnson said, “That is up to the selectors but I will go there and give my best and see what happens. Looking at the Test side there are openings there, once I have an outstanding season I think my chances are good as anyone.
My aim is to do well and help Guyana retain the title,” answered the 34-year-old Johnson.
“I don’t think you are too old in your early 30 to get a recall if you produce what is required, especially being a batsman and not a fast bowler. I have to do my part since it’s only the selectors who can pick me,” said Johnson, who played the last of nine Tests in 2016.
When asked he was willing to open the batting at Test level which he was asked to in the past, although he was a middle order batsman, Johnson said, “I don’t think if I am recalled I would not bat in that position since the selectors now are of a different mold than those in that period who asked me to open for number three and four.
But if opening is the only opportunity I will take it, but first I have to do well with the bat,” said Johnson who has two Test fifties including 66 on his debut in St Lucia when TV replays confirmed that the Umpire had erred.
Johnson scored an unbeaten 189 against the Windwards in Dominica and two half-centuries at an average 41.81to be Guyana leading scorer in the last truncated 2020 season which Barbados won.

 

 

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