By Brandon Corlette
Demerara deservingly retained the crown as they are now back-to-back champions of the Super50 inter-county tournament.
The team scores throughout the 2023 and 2024 tournaments were simply poor. Demerara, in one instance managed to bat their full quota of 50 overs in a tournament which featured a total of 14 innings and four teams.
In an era where 300 runs is considered a par score in a 50 over contest, the highest team score in the recently concluded inter-county tournament was 258-9 in 50 overs.
The first question for an individual watching from a distance is whether the pitches are good for cricket in general. Well, the grounds used for the 2024 inter-county tournament were Pomona (Essequibo), Lusignan (East Coast Demerara), and Georgetown Cricket Club Bourda.
The most accurate answer you will get as to whether these venues are suitable for top quality cricket is to simply visit.
This inter-county tournament featured international cricketers, and national cricketers from Guyana, and it was used for preparation of the Regional Super50 tournament which starts on October 29 in Trinidad.
The GCB cricket operations department, in an unprofessional manner, announced the senior men’s national squad for the tournament via email approximately one hour before midnight (22:59 hours). The document sent out had the list of names only, and pictures of four players.
Demerara’s left-arm spinner Devon Lord was impressive, leading the wickets tally in the inter-county tournament with 11 wickets in four innings. He failed to make the 14-man squad, and he was listed on standby. Some individuals have taken to social media, to express their disappointment at the non-selection of Lord and questioning the relevance of an inter-county tournament. The popular proverb could be used in this case; many are called, but few are chosen.
How the mighty Berbicians fell on their faces
The mighty Berbicians were simply poor at this year’s tournament. Team selection was puzzling from the inception. The term “washed-up” is often used in cricket when a player is no longer effective or had served his time as a player.
Rajiv Ivan, a 38-year-old batsman who made a golden duck on return, played two List A games for Guyana since 2013, yes, a lifetime ago, was in the Berbice starting XI.
A 34-year-old Jonathan Foo, who last played for Guyana since 2019 was also in the Berbice team. Veerasammy Permaul who continues to play white-ball cricket and has little impact, was the captain of the side which recorded one win and suffered two defeats in three matches.
In a section of the media, the Head Coach of the Berbice team, Julian Moore is calling for three-day First Division cricket to be played in the ancient county. There is an absent of three-day cricket Berbice for a while, in fact the Banks DIH three-day tournament is still not yet completed, since starting in 2019.
Additionally, first division cricket is not being played in Berbice on a consistent basis, and this has certainly resulted in the decline of Berbice senior men’s team in recent years.
Time for improvements
While the players must pull their weights, and have an appetite to score big, the administrators must be innovative in their approach. The game has evolved, but some local boards still believe in getting things done in the olden days.
Firstly, the marketing of the inter-county tournament must improve.
A positive note for the recent inter-county tournaments was the live streaming for some of the matches. This kept overseas fans connected, but at times, the local commentators kept showing why Guyanese are not considered consistently for international broadcast.
Berbice, with all the resources at hand, and experience at their disposal, should play more first division cricket, and select teams based on merit.
The entire Caribbean wants to see West Indies cricket rise, but the little things must be corrected from the grassroot level. Play more first division cricket, especially the longer format, and remind batsmen that there is a difference in being hungry, and just wanting something to eat.