– new coach feels he can transform Guyana’s cricket
– injured Deonarine to be replaced by Vishal Singh
By Rajiv Bisnauth
Mark Harper (extreme right) drills his squad at yesterday’s training session
As the senior cricket team begins training for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Regional four-day tournament under new coach Mark Harper, all cricket lovers will hope that this is the beginning of a new era in Guyana’s cricket.
The squad, minus Narsingh Deonarine, who has withdrawn due to an elbow injury that eliminated him from the recent Regional T20 tournament, and seven standbys commenced training yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground (GCC) under the guidance of Harper.
This publication was reliably informed that Narsingh Deonarine has been replaced by former first-class left-handed batsman Vishal Singh.
At the training session yesterday, Guyana Times International Sports caught up with Harper, who revealed that Guyana’s cricket will definitely move forward under his tenure as coach. “I am a very experienced coach, with a stint with the Guyana senior team in 2000/2001. I have coached the Bermuda National team and have a lot of experience. I will definitely bring a new playing field that will transform Guyana’s cricket,” Harper related to this publication.
Harper further revealed that while he is experienced enough to help Guyana’s cricket move forward, he has the advantage of being able to call on former cricketers who are willing to guide him along. “I have the liberty to call on a lot of people, especially Roger Harper and Neil Barry,” the new coach revealed.
Harper further revealed that since Guyana’s cricket is not at its real potential, he is optimistic that with his new work ethic this will definitely change.
Harper who represented Guyana in 42 First-class matches replaced the elegant former Guyana First-class batsman Rabindranauth Seeram, who averaged 35.3 with three centuries and 1,997 runs from 41 Firstclass matches between 1983 and 1992, and who was in charge during Guyana’s Regional T20 win last year. That win earned them the right to represent the Caribbean in the Airtel tournament in South Africa.
However, Guyana has generally struggled badly at the Regional level in recent times and the fact that they registered their lowest totals in Regional 50-over and T20 cricket in back-to back tournaments may have prompted Seeram’s replacement.
Meanwhile, Harper has dismissed all speculations that his appointment was stalled due to financial demands.
The 13-member squad, minus Deonarine, that began training for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Regional Four-day Tournament reads:
Asad Fudadin (captain), Davindra Bishoo (Vice-captain), Rajendra Chandrika, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Shemroy Barrington, Leon Johnson, Royston Crandon, Derwin Christian, Veerasammy Permaul, Esuan Crandon, Brendon Bess and Rainsford Beaton. The stand-bys are: Anthony Bramble, Vishal Singh, Zaheer Mohamed, Steven Jacobs, Chris Barnwell, Andre Stoll and Keon Joseph.
Guyana play their first match against powerhouse Jamaica from February 4 in Jamaica.
