Crandon looking beyond regional title
Added by Barbados Today on October 2, 2015, Source
GEORGETOWN, Guyana –– With one eye on defending his team’s regional first-class title, head coach of the Guyana Jaguars franchise, Esaun Crandon, says his main aim during the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Professional Cricket league (PCL) four-day tournament is to produce more international cricketers for the West Indies team.
From a personal perspective, Crandon said his desire this season was to ensure each player realised his full potential, with the aim of ultimately wearing the maroon West Indies uniform in the near future.
“Yea definitely, while our first goal is to defend the title, obviously one of the goals set out is to produce players to play at the highest level, but having said that it’s a process, and we are willing to go through that process,” Crandon said.
He added: “It will not be that easy, it will talk a lot of hard work from the players individually as well as the support staff, but we are prepared for the hard work.”
Under Crandon’s watch, Guyana has produced three new West Indies players, namely batsmen Assad Fudadin and Rajendra Chandrika, and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul.
It was also under Crandon’s tenure that leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine and middle-order batsman Leon Johnson earned recalls to the senior West Indies team.
“We did well last year and we are trying to continue this year because we are not only looking to win, but to produce players for the West Indies so people can judge us not only for winning, but for producing West Indian players,” Crandon pointed out.
He continued: “One thing I want this year from my players is for them to get out of the 400/500 runs [aggregate]. I want them to aim higher to get 800 or 1000 runs. I also want them to come out of 20 and 30 averages and go for 40 or 50. I think for our fast bowlers this year, I really want to see them dominate. I know the wickets are not conducive, but that’s where the skills as a bowler come in for the different surfaces where they will have to know how to adjust, bowl in the right areas and be patient.”
Crandon expressed confidence that the discipline displayed by the cricketers during the recent training sessions was a positive sign.
According to Crandon, the players have shown vast improvement over the few weeks in perfecting their game in time for the tournament, which is set to bowl off on November 6.
“I am pleased with the level of fitness and improvement shown by the players,” Crandon declared.
Two four-day practice games are planned before the final squad is selected. The Guyana Jaguars will begin the defence of the title against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the National Stadium.
