Martin Guptill has been named captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors as the team steps up preparations for the upcoming HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season.
Guptill, the 29-year-old New Zealander, is the franchise’s marquee player and is ranked third in the ICC World T20 batting rankings. He has a career average of 34.73 and strike rate of
131.44 from 61 games to date for the Black Caps.
This will be Guptill’s fourth season in the CPL overall, and third with the Warriors, having also previously featured for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in 2015.
In 28 CPL games to date, he averages 35.7, including seven half-centuries, with a highest score of 90.
“It is a huge thrill and a great honour for me to be selected as Guyana Amazon Warriors captain for the forthcoming CPL season,” Guptill said.
“Guyana is a cricket-rich nation and has produced many outstanding West Indies cricketers, not least Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Colin Croft, Lance Gibbs, Carl Hooper and the great Sir Clive Lloyd, amongst many others. I am conscious of Guyana’s heritage and standing in the Caribbean, and proud to lead the team into battle this year.”
The newly appointed captain said he is eager to work with the emerging talent at the franchise, who are working hard to improve their respective games.
He also said he is looking forward to playing games in the USA, which he describes as a positive development for the CPL. Most of all, he was happy to be back playing CPL cricket this season.
“I would like to thank the owners and coach Roger Harper for inviting me back and we are all focused on giving our wonderful supporters many happy memories later this summer. Providence Stadium is a ground that I have fond memories of playing on and I know that we can count on some big numbers for our games there again this summer.”
Coach Roger Harper lauded the new captain on his appointment.
“I would like to offer my congratulations to Martin on being named captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for CPL 2016. I have no doubt that Martin will lead from the front and his professionalism and passion for the game will spread throughout the team and drive us to success. I am excited about working with him as captain,” Harper said.
Meanwhile, franchise owner Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop was delighted at the appointment.
“Martin’s dynamic personality, coupled with his high level of discipline and work ethic, will certainly be instrumental as a role model to the other team members, especially the younger players on the team. We wish him well and believe that he will be an inspirational figure for the team, on and off the field.”
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