Wintz looking for more opportunities in CPL 4

He’s not express pace, but he makes up for that with a nagging line and length and the ability to be very deceptive. He’s also no slouch with the bat, and a safe pair of hands makes him an asset in the field.

In a nutshell, Paul Gordon Wintz has all the attributes of a T20 player, as he can give his team solid overs up front and at the ‘death’, chip in with vital lower-order runs and save critical runs in the field.

The Berbician, who now plies his trade for city side Demerara Cricket Club, is preparing for his second stint in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (Hero CPL), set for June 29 to August 7.

Wintz, who turns 30 on March 7, made his maiden appearance in the ‘Biggest Party in Sport, suiting up for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2015. Opportunities were limited, as he played just one game, claiming 0-17 from three overs against St Lucia Zouks at Gros Islet.

At the Player Draft in February, Wintz was again snapped up by his home franchise, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and the all-rounder is looking forward to more on-field action in CPL 4, with the aim of helping the team to lift its maiden title.

“I’m looking forward to playing more game actually, and we’ve done fairly well over the last years, going to the finals and semi-finals, so hopefully we can go all the way this time and win it,” Wintz told this publication on Tuesday.

Despite just a solitary appearance in 2015, Wintz was confident of being picked up at the Player Draft in Barbados. “I was good in the practice games and I think I bowled well in the one match I played [in CPL 2015], so I was looking forward to getting select again this year.”

He added, “There will be about 10 preliminary games [this year], I’m looking to play at least seven and get wickets up front and come back and get wickets in the death overs.”

Commenting on the composition of the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad and the franchise’s chance of coming out on top, Wintz said, “Well you have to be optimistic, you can’t count yourself out, but rather take one game at a time…and by the halfway stage you should know where you stand in the competition.”

With the likes of international superstars AB deVilliers of South Africa, Shane Watson of Australia and Brendon McCullum of New Zealand set to debut at CPL 4, Wintz is excited to rub shoulders with the foreign players and gain from their experiences.

“Most obviously with players of that calibre it would be nice to rub shoulders with them and play amongst them,” Wintz related.

In the space of six years, Wintz has played just three regional T20 matches, the first of which was in 2010 against Mumbai Indians when Guyana played in the Champions League in South Africa. He has picked up two wickets; both of which came against South Australia in the Champions League.

He has an impressive List A career, capturing 32 wickets from 19 games at average of 19, and an economy rate of 4.62. Wintz also has a highest score of 38 not out and an average of 16.

With the large pool of international players not familiar with Wintz’s style, the all-rounder could be the go-to man for the Guyana Amazon Warriors at CPL 4. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)