As the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) quickly approaches the playoffs stage, Guyana Amazon Warriors player Steven Jacobs believes his team possesses the strength to finish as the number one team on the table.
“I think we (Guyana Amazon Warriors) have the strength to finish as the number one team… once we play basic cricket and as our manager would say, the team that makes the least mistakes will come out on top. So the onus is on us to top the table…It’s a matter of one game at a time,” he said.
The Warriors have performed outstanding to date and are currently in second position after spending the first two weeks atop the point standings. Due to such returns Jacobs said if they continue to do the basics and play as a unit they will come out on top.
“We are playing good cricket at the moment. It’s T20 cricket and they are also good teams in this tournament, however, once we continue to do the basics and play as a unit we will come out on top”, said Jacobs.
Guyana’s first seven games were played with opening batsman Martin Guptill at the helm of the team, however, he has since left CPL to join New Zealand on their tour to Zimbabwe. Due to his leadership qualities, contribution with the bat and ability in the field, his departure is considered a great loss by pundits of the game.
A sentiment that Jacobs also share as he is of the view that Guptill’s departure is a huge loss, but at the same time there is Rayad Emrit who knows about leading teams to championships and also Nic Maddison (Guptill’s replacement), who is an experience player in this version. So it is an opportunity for both guys to step up and deliver.
In relation to Maddison, the former West Indies youth player added that he knows he is a dangerous batsman and can add a lot for the Amazon Warriors team.
Besides Guptill’s departure, when the Warriors play the Zouks on Sunday it will be their first game in more than a week, a situation many believe could hamper the Warriors momentum. However, the former Guyana U-19 player thinks otherwise. “I don’t think it could hamper the way we play because we have been doing a lot of work during the break and it’s hard for me to predict anything, but what I can say is Guyana would be going hard so we could pick up another win.”
The fans are important to the team’s cause and the offspinner who played in all the home games is urging the supporters to continue with their support since without them, the Warriors would not be in this current position, which is high on the points table.
