(guyanachronicle)LEFT-arm spinner Anthony Adams believes that the dominant streak by the Guyana Jaguars has created immense competition for spots in the senior set-up.
Adams has had modest returns in his First-Class debut last year, where he went wicket-less in an almost mute display, but remains one of the country’s leading spinners.
However, for Adams to slot into the national side, as a permanent fixture, will always be a difficult task, taking into consideration the availability of spinners at the Jaguars’ disposal.
West Indies spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul being the front-line bowlers and their Albion teammate Gudakesh Motie joining the fray soon after and dominating mean Adams’ chances are certainly limited.
But while the 25-year-old is fully aware of the situation that confronts him, he is not prepared to give up easily.
In fact the Essequibian expressed his disappointment at not being a part of the Guyana Jaguars squad for the 2018/2019 Professional Cricket League (PCL) Regional Four-day championship.
“Yea, it’s a bit disappointing not to get in, but at the same time it is not an easy task to get into the franchise, because of the role I play as a left-arm spinner. There are two men currently in the set-up, who have been doing well for Guyana, so definitely it will always be difficult for me,” Adams reckoned.
Dubbed the most prolific left-arm spin bowler from Essequibo, Adams said he is prepared to continue the hard work and dedication.
“Age is on my side so I have a lot of cricket to play, so I will continue to work hard and wait for my opportunity again,” he expressed.
Adams broke into the national set-up after taking 52 wickets in seven matches and second only to Motie’s 61 in last year’s Jaguars Franchise League Three-day tournament. His performance single-handedly gave Essequibo its first-ever Three-day title in just the second year of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Jaguars are the defending champions of the PCL Regional Four-day championship, having won every title since the competition began in 2014/2015.
This season the local franchise has drafted in West Indies Under-19 players Tevin Imlach and Javier Spencer as the newcomers.
Spencer and Jamaican off-spinner Ramaal Lewis are the overseas players in the squad, while Guyanese all-rounders Christopher Barnwell, Akshaya Persaud and Imlach complete the quota of five players who were picked at the Player Draft in Antigua last month.
The 10 players retained by the Guyana Jaguars from the last season are Veerasammy Permaul, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Motie, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Keon Joseph, Anthony Bramble, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd.
All-rounders Raymon Reifer and Keemo Paul, batsman Shimron Hetmyer and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who are all now centrally contracted by Cricket West Indies (CWI), are available on Pay for Play, as is veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
The Four-day championship scheduled for later this calendar year will commence after the Regional 50-over competition since the West Indies are preparing for the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2019.