By Brandon Corlette
The Guyana Harpy Eagles announced a familiar 14-man squad for the 2023 Regional Super50 tournament which starts on October 17 in Trinidad and Tobago. Experienced left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul will lead the team while noted players Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Shimron Hetmyer, Kevin Sinclair, Sherfane Rutherford and Tagenarine Chanderpaul are in the squad.
A major talking point that emerged after the squad was released, was the non-selection of Shamar Joseph, the rising fast-bowler. The inclusion of Chandrapaul Hemraj has also been a hot topic for discussion and the exclusion of Richie Looknauth has been a talking point. Player of the inter-county final, Ronaldo Ali Mohamed may as well count himself unlucky to miss out on the team.
Time to decode the Harpy Eagles team.
Where is Shamar Joseph?
The right-handed fast-bowler has impressed many with his raw pace. Joseph played in the Regional Four-Day tournament earlier this year and he claimed a five-wicket haul against Windward Islands Volcanoes.
During his 5-41, he displayed the need-for-speed. He further showed his talent in the 2023 Caribbean Premier League, and despite going wicket-less in the two matches he played, Joseph had impressed noted cricket commentator and former West Indies fast-bowler, Ian Bishop.
Despite not taking the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior inter-county tournament by storm, Joseph was drafted in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, as the foreigners have already spotted his talent.
The question is, why was Joseph not selected? The GCB selectors have not made any official disclosure to date, but it is seen in sections of social media, that Joseph needs to be nurtured.
Is Ronsford Beaton fit and ready to go?
In the Guyana Harpy Eagles practice match at GCC Bourda, Beaton bowled five overs for eight runs and went wicket-less. In the inter-county against Berbice, Beaton bowled three overs for 25 runs and went wicket-less. Against Demerara, Beaton bowled four overs for 23 runs and claimed one wicket. It has been a struggle for Beaton to complete 10 overs this season. Perhaps, the off days in the build up of the Super50 is what is needed for him to recover and produce the goods at the Super50. Time will tell.
Sampson over Ali Mohamed?
Keemo Paul is out injured. Therefore, a seam-bowling all-rounder slot was up for the taking during the senior inter-county.
Seam bowling all-rounder Sampson was picked ahead of Ronaldo Ali Mohamed.
Sampson has picked up two four-wicket hauls in this inter-county. Samspon had 4-18 against Select XI, scored 32 against Demerara and claimed 4-25 against a strong Berbice team. Ali Mohamed had 4-29 in the final against Berbice, 3-44 against GCB Select XI, and 3-37 against Essequibo. Both all-rounders produced for their team but it was unfortunate for Ali Mohamed not to be selected, since he did what was required of him, with ball in hand.
Chandrapaul Hemraj had to be selected
Matthew Nandu is in the West Indies Academy squad for the Super50. That left Rampertab Ramnauth as the other contracted opener (apart from Tagenarine Chanderpaul). Ramnauth, a left-handed National Under-19 opener from Berbice, had scores of 00, 00 and 04 at the inter-county. Hemraj had scores of 30, 02 and 29. Raymond Perez, who scored a half-century at the inter-county, did not compel the selectors enough.
Therefore, with all the experience that Hemraj has, he had to partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul as the second opener in the Harpy Eagles team. The youngsters that most are calling for to open the batting with Chanderpaul, have not blasted centuries to overthrow Hemraj from his familiar opening slot.
The case of Richie Looknauth
Utility man Richie Looknauth has done everything that he could have done to be selected. If performance was the only criteria for selection, Looknauth would have walked into the Guyana Harpy Eagles team. He scored a pivotal fifty against Berbice in the final, picked up 1-3 and he has shown consistency. However, it is difficult for him to play ahead of Kevin Sinclair, a West Indies player and a man who claimed 13 wickets, the most in the tournament, and scored an 81.
Looknauth had 1-8 against Select XI, 1-39 against Essequibo, and his other notable effort with the bat came against the star-studded Berbice line-up where he scored a solid 36 from 44 balls on a tricky track at Blairmont. Looknauth has been performing at all local cricket in Guyana, and even he has shown is worth in the United States of America, playing club cricket.
The fact that Looknauth is up for discussion is a good sign for Guyana’s cricket, shows that there is depth and competition for places. His time will come. Junior Sinclair, who is a contracted player continue to be left out despite his promise and performances. His time is also near, as it relates to playing for the Guyana Harpy Eagles.
As it relates to the other players in the squad, there are no other surprises. The likes of Tevin Imlach, the newly appointed vice-captain, has grown from strength to strength and the familiar faces need no explanation.
The likes of Shepherd, Hetmyer, Motie, Permaul, Hetmyer, Sinclair, Chanderpaul and Rutherford will be key players, while the ever improving Kevlon Anderson will want to make further announcement with runs under his belt.
The Guyana Harpy Eagles will be hunting the double this year at CWI Regional senior tournaments, having won the Regional Four-Day earlier this year. Guyana last won the Super50 tournament in 2005.