By Rajiv Bisnauth
(Photos: Rajiv Bisnauth)
Thirty-three (33) members of the provisional squad of 37 players named by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) underwent their first day of fitness training at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday, as selectors began to explore for players who will comprise the touring squads for next year’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day and NAGICO Super50 tournaments.
The sessions were conducted under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Esaun Crandon, Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel of the GCB, Rayon Griffith, and coach Julian Moore.
Saturday’s sessions focused mainly on the physical aspect of the players’ training. The squad, minus all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine, veteran middleorder batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul and all-rounder Steven Jacobs, began the session by testing their stamina and oxygen uptake by virtue of a beep test.
Beep exam
The players then ran 20-mile shuttles back and forth for a designated period of time and after completion of the beep exam; they then free-ran 50-mile shuttles with the use of cones.
The players then sought to impress the GCB officials by completing a series of drills and simulations in a bid to secure a spot in the national senior team.
After the beep trails were concluded, the players were engaged in the cardiovascular aspect of fitness as they were drilled on push-ups and sit-ups, followed by “military boot- camp” simulated drills, with the use of chairs and cones.
In an invited comment at the conclusion of the first day, Crandon told Guyana Times International Sport that he was very impressed with the players’ fitness level.
“A lot of the players have shown that high level of fitness, which is very encouraging,” Crandon said.
The players shortlisted for possible selections on the Guyana team for the upcoming NAGICO Super50 and Regional Four-day tournaments commencing next month in Trinidad and Tobago are: Leon Johnson, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Anthony Bramble, Robin Bacchus, Assad Fudadin, Zaheer Mohamed, Royston Crandon, Christopher Barnwell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Vishal Singh, Ronsford Beaton, Rajiv Ivan, Amir Khan, Trevon Griffith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shaquille Williams, Jonathan Foo, Narsingh Deonarine, Steven Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Jason Sinclair, Paul Wintz, Anthony Adams, Rajendra Chandrika, Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Stoll, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ryan Ramdass, Chris Pattadin, Royan Fredricks, Totaram Bishun and Collis Butts.
