Leon Johnson Wants To Score Big For Guyana In NAGICO Super50

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Guyana’s strong batting will be looking to dominate the other bowling attacks when they get cracking in the NAGICO Super50 tournament. With Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin and skipper Christopher Barnwell in the line-up, the Guyanese are expected to post some big scores for their bowlers to defend.

Leon Johnson looking to score big in the NAGICO Super50 tournament.

Left-hander Leon Johnson is another one of the key batsmen in the team and he also wants to feature prominently during the NAGICO Super50 – which runs from January 30 to February 15 in Trinidad and Tobago. He is looking to help his team win and make an impact to secure a return to the West Indies senior team.

“Looking at the NAGICO Super50, I see this as a good stepping stone, but I’m also looking forward to the four-day tournament and the first-class cricket. I’m feeling really comfortable now that I have sorted out a few issues I had with my technique,” Johnson said.

“My game is at a good standard. Having done well in India has boosted my chances and my belief again. Playing against international players was really good for me and now I will look to push on and make the most of what comes my way.”

Johnson appeared for West Indies way back in 2008 when he played against Bermuda and hosts Canada in Toronto. Later that year he toured New Zealand but did not play. Last year he was in India with the West Indies ‘A’ Team and performed well.

“I went to New Zealand back in 2008 and I didn’t manage to break in to the team. Now, I think I can break in, I think I am more focussed and in the right frame of mind. Five years is a long time to be sitting on the outside, so now is my time to shine with some big scores for Guyana.”

He added: “We are equipped in both batting and bowling to do very well. We have a solid, experience team as most of us have played together before, so we will travel to the tournament with confidence.”

Guyana are drawn in Zone A alongside Windward Islands, Jamaica, and Ireland. Their opening match will be against the Irish on Friday, January 31 at Queen’s Park Oval.

The NAGICO Super50 tournament will run from January 30 to February 15 and will be broadcast live on ESPN and on Caribbean Super Station radio. Matches at Queen’s Park Oval are day/night fixtures while matches at Shaw Park, Tobago are day games.

SQUADS
GUYANA: Christopher Barnwell (captain), Shiv Chanderpaul (vice captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Anthony Bramble (wicket-keeper), Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz; Esuan Crandon (coach)

IRELAND: William Porterfield (captain), Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Andrew Poynter, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young; Phil Simmons (coach)

JAMAICA: David Bernard Jr (captain), Nikita Miller (vice captain), Andre Russell, Carlton Baugh Jr (wicket-keeper), Tamar Lambert, Andrew Richardson, Horace Miller, John Campbell, Jermaine Blackwood, Andre McCarthy, Sheldon Cottrell, Jerome Taylor, Nkrumah Bonner, Kenar Lewis; Junior Bennett (coach)

WINDWARD ISLANDS: Liam Sebastien (captain), Andre Fletcher (vice captain), Johnson Charles (wicket-keeper), Tyron Theophille, Mervin Matthew, Craig Emmanuel, Garey Mathurin, Keddy Lesporis, Devon Smith, Dalton Polius, Delorn Johnson, Kenroy Peters, Romel Currency, Alston Bobb; Ian Allen (coach)

BARBADOS: Kevin Stoute (captain), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Rashidi Boucher, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich (wicket-keeper), Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Dwayne Smith, Kenroy Williams; Hendy Springer (coach)

COMBINED CAMP– — USES & COLLEGES: Steven Jacobs (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Ryan Austin, Kyle Corbin, Akeem Dewar, Kavem Hodge, Kyle Mayers, Kristopher Ramsaran, Wayne Morgan, Shacaya Thomas, Raymon Reifer, Chadwick Walton (wicket-keeper), Kesrick Williams, Floyd Reifer (player/coach)

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Adrian Barath, Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Jason Mohammed, Denesh Ramdin (wicket-keeper), Rayad Emrit, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Imran Khan, Yannick Ottley, Shannon Gabriel, Kevon Cooper; Kelvin Williams (coach)
LEEWARD ISLANDS: To be named on Monday, January 27

MATCH SCHEDULE
January
Thursday, 30th: Windwards vs Jamaica at Queen’s Park Oval
Friday, 31st: Guyana vs Ireland at Queen’s Park Oval
February
Saturday, 1st: Leewards vs CCC at Queen’s Park Oval
Sunday, 2nd: T&T vs Barbados at Queen’s Park Oval
Monday, 3rd: Jamaica vs Ireland at Queen’s Park Oval
Tuesday, 4th: Guyana vs Windwards at Queen’s Park Oval
Wednesday, 5th: Leewards vs T&T at Shaw Park
Thursday, 6th: CCC vs Barbados at Shaw Park
Friday, 7th: Ireland vs Windwards at Queen’s Park Oval
Saturday, 8th: Guyana vs Jamaica at Queen’s Park Oval
Sunday, 9th: CCC vs T&T at Queen’s Park Oval
Monday, 10th: Barbados vs Leewards at Queen’s Park Oval
Wednesday, 12th: Semi-final 1 – Zone A winner vs Zone B second at Queen’s Park Oval
Thursday, 13th: Semi-final 2 – Zone B winner vs Zone A second at Queen’s Park Oval
Saturday 15th: FINAL – Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of Semi-final 2 at Queen’s Park Oval