Cricketers fitness improving -Johnson
Stabroek News
January 3, 2005
One of three coaches of the Guyana senior four-day encamped cricket team, Vibert Johnson thinks that the cricketer's fitness has improved tremendously since they started camp.
Johnson related that, in all levels of fitness, the cricketers improved. He noted that this was seen in the beep test (used to test a person's speed and endurance).
" About two times per week we do the beep test to ascertain if there is development in terms of the fitness level, or if anybody is dropping back. So far, everybody has been able to improve, every time we do the test they are steadily improving."
Johnson related that fitness is of extreme importance for the camp, and that the coaches and technical director Roger Harper see the need for this in cricket.
" This year, more emphasis has been placed on fitness, and that has contributed significantly towards the preparation. If you are not physically prepared you can never be mentally prepared."
One of the hindering effects of the encampment, Johnson noted, was that of rain.
" It is a pity that we were not able to get more outdoor sessions with respect to practice, but I think generally the guys are looking good, we have done a lot of work indoors and I think that we are more prepared that last year."
Yesterday, the final 13 and the standby players had a practice session at the National Gymnasium. Practice is expected to continue today, with the team tentatively slated to leave Wednesday for Trinidad, to play the national team from Friday.
After Trinidad the Damador Daesrath-led side will then challenge the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands and Jamaica.