Dear Editor,
Recently the WICB President, Dave Cameron officially announced that for future domestic season’s starting from November, Caribbean players will be allowed to play for other countries, similar to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The historic West Indies domestic tradition, of only born nationals playing for the respective sovereign territories is over. Since the turn of the millennium the four-day tournament has only been won by Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados. This imbalance of competition is arguably a reason for the Windies declined in test cricket.
Guyana’s performance in regional four-day cricket in the last 15 years is particularly abysmal.
The shared 1997/1998 title with Leeward Islands was last time Guyana tasted first-class triumph, while their previous appearance in a four-day final was 2001. And, following the 2013/14 season (losing outright to Leewards, Combined Campuses & Colleges & failing to win a game) which was arguably Guyana’s worst ever in the history of regional four-day cricket that commenced in 1965/66 – the impending foreign intervention is a potential life saver.
Guyana’s senior teams aren’t very good in any format in recent years and as the CPL displayed, the Amazon Warriors best players are not Guyanese.
But this revamped first-class system is bigger than Guyana cricket, it’s about strengthening West Indies cricket, so that they can become a better test team.
With Shivnarine Chanderpaul the only Guyanese contracted by the WICB, picking the stipulated 10 home players should not be difficult. Therefore Guyana selectors have to be intuitive in the five foreign players they select.
Retirements and decline in form of players such as Azeemul Haniff, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ryan Ramdass and Krishna Arjune has left Guyana struggling for a solid opening pair.
Young Tagenarine Chanderpaul is certainly a star for the future in that role, but whether he is truly ready now is debatable. Trevon Griffith despite his talent, early career numbers aren’t impressive.
Trinidad’s Adrian Barath looks the ideal player to acquire. From a Guyana perspective, a seasoned opener like him with international experience to bat with young Chanderpaul or Griffith is preferable. This could help revive Barath’s career to the West Indies benefit, because he is unlikely to get picked for Trinidad now that Lendl Simmons and Evan Lewis are their incumbent openers.
Colin Croft is the only fast bowler Guyana has produced that dominated for the West Indies. Currently once injuries don’t affect his career like Reon King and Colin Stuart – Ronsford Beaton has all the tools to emulate Croft – but he needs support.
Barbados will have a lot of fast bowlers spread around, thus Kevin McClean, Tino Best, Fidel Edwards and Trinidad’s Marlon Richards (who has Guyanese heritage) are obvious options to recruit. The keeper position has not been stable after Vishaul Nagamootoo departed. Derwin Christian never cemented his place and the jury is out on Anthony Bramble. Now that the CCC team is disbanded, Jamaican keeper Chadwick Walton could be available for purchase if Jamaica retains Carlton Baugh. Trinidad keeper Stephen Katwaroo is another good option, with Ramdin and Pooran ahead of him in the pecking order.
The West Indies upcoming international schedule mean’s that Chanderpaul may not play much for Guyana. Sarwan’s back injury woes and Deonarine poor form leaves a question mark over their futures also.
This leaves Leon Johnson and Assad Fudadin as the only stable middle-order batsmen Guyana have and reinforcements in this area would be needed. However the options here are harder to state, because one would have to see what players the other territories release into the auction.
All ardent Guyana cricket supporters locally & worldwide should keenly observe franchise draft. A new reality for how the Guyana senior team will be comprised beckons.
Colin Benjamin.
kaieteurnewsonline.com
