As intense training continues for the Guyana Jaguars, Head Coach Esuan Crandon has expressed satisfaction at the attitude of the players.
Devendra Bishoo bowling in the nets
In fact, Crandon said the attitude has been positive from players. The squad is preparing for the second edition of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League Regional Four-day franchise tournament which starts in November.
“I think we are heading in the right direction,” Crandon said. “The work ethic is definitely there, the guys are putting in the hard work, gelling together as a group, the energy is there throughout the fitness sessions and the intensity is always there. I think it is just a matter of the guys continuing in that vein, giving the effort, showing enthusiasm and hopefully, we can move forward from here,” said Crandon.
Further, the 33-year-old Crandon, who took 98 wickets from his 38 First-Class matches, says he is impressed with his squad’s fitness level and is pleased with the general condition of the players.
He further stated that some players “still have a little way to go, but some of them are at a level where they just need to maintain it.”
Meanwhile, Crandon confirmed that opening batsman Kandasammy Surujnarine has replaced Barbadian Ryan Hinds.
The 34-year-old Hinds withdrew from the squad owing to previous commitments elsewhere.
Hinds and fellow Barbadian Javon Searles were snapped up by the Jaguars on behalf of Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) during the players’ draft in June, in keeping with the WICB’s regulation, which stipulated that regional territories acquire a maximum of two foreign players.
The new franchise system allows each of the six franchises to have 15 contracted players.
However, apart from those contracted players, other players who have been awarded an Academy Contract from Cricket Guy Inc for the year 2015-2016 are also eligible for selection under the ‘Pay for Play’ criteria.
The Guyana Jaguars contracted players for the 2015-2016 season are: Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Paul Wintz, Raymon Reifer, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetymer, Ronsford Beaton, Keon Joseph, Assad Fudadin, Rajendra Chandrika, Vishual Singh, Javon Searles and Kandasammy Surujnarine.
Further, it must be noted that batsmen Leon Johnson and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are part of the Jaguars’ set-up, but were not considered for contracts since both batsmen have WICB retainer contracts.
The players on Academy Contracts are: Gudakesh Motie, Anthony Adams, Raun Johnson, Keemo Paul, Raj Nannan, Steven Sankar, Robin Bacchus, Kemol Savory, Kevon Boodie, Dexter Solomon, Steven Jacobs, Tevin Imlach and Akshaya Persaud.
The Guyana Jaguars are defending champions of the PCL Four-day competition.
(Taken from Guyana Times)