PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Defending champions Jamaica and fancied Barbados meet in the feature attraction of the opening round in the West Indies Under-15 championship at Inshan Ali Park today.
Both sides are confident heading into the fixture, but Jamaica manager Ephraim McCleod indicated his side had an incentive to do well.
“We are going all out to keep our title,” he said. “The team has trained very hard, and are very focussed on the task ahead. We are going all out to play positive and good cricket.
McCleod added that his side would want to follow in the footsteps of the national senior side which won this year’s regional first-class championship, and the Under-19 side which are the defending champions of the three-day competition in that age group.
Three members of last year’s victorious team are back in the squad including wicketkeeper/batsman and captain Aldane Thomas, batsman Brandon King, and fast bowler Maquino Mindley.
Barbados coach Dexter Toppin felt his side’s preparations for the competition at home went fairly well, and the players were looking forward to translate it into the competitive aspect of the game.
“We had four zones and the squad was reduced to 32, then to 18, and the final 14 for the tournament,” he said.
“We are looking to give a good account of ourselves. The youngsters are looking to do well, and progress on to the national Under-19 team, and from then on to the national senior and then on to the ‘Big Picture’ – West Indies team.”
Batsman Jameel Stuart, the Barbados captain, and all-rounder Jonathan Drakes are the only two members from last year’s tournament in the 14-member squad.
Hosts Trinidad & Tobago will open their quest for top honours against Leeward Islands at the National Cricket Centre, and Windward Islands face Guyana at Gilbert Park in the other match.
All matches are 50 overs-a-side and start at 9:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. Jamaica Time).
Squads: AT INSHAN ALI PARK
BARBADOS (from): Jameel Stuart (captain), Dario Boyce, Jonathan Drakes, Craig Holder, Aaron Jones, Jerome Jones, Daniel Jordan, Neil Persaud, Shane Proverbs, Shomario Taylor, Demar Thorne, Jaffari Toppin, Tevin Walcott , Chad Williams
JAMAICA (from): Brandon King (captain), Aldane Thomas, Sadique Henry, Christopher Powell, Shawn Lodge, Tristan Coleman, Maquino Mindley, Devon Spencer, Kevon Williams, Roshane Manning, Keneil Anniford, Fabian Allen, Nicholas Hamilton, Tezwayne Creary
UMPIRES: Peter Nero, Perry Galindo
AT THE NATIONAL CRICKET CENTRE
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (from): Vikash Mohan (captain), Andy Gobin, Al Small, Jeremy Solozano, Brandon Ramdial, Nicolas Pooran, Aleem Khan, Jovan Ali, Brian Charles, Jesse Bootan, Justin Joseph, Brian Christmas, Varindra Jagroop, Jonathan Hirst
LEEWARD ISLANDS (from): Worrell Smith (captain), Tristan Hanley, Shaka Sobers, Oliver Meade, A.J Abrams, Shawn Tuitt, Ronald Powell Jr, Carlos Powell, Bervis Burke, Diamond Parris, Avier Christian, Le-Tanio Ferdinand, Shane Venner, Hakeem Harvey
UMPIRES: Stuart Gopaul, Shaheed Allaham
AT GILBERT PARK
GUYANA (from): Shawn Perreira (captain), Bryan Sattaur, Quacy McPherson, Romario DeJonge, Shalandra Shameer, Parmanand Narine, Ricardo Adams, Kamesh Yadran, Prince Roberts, Gudakesh Motie Kanhai, Dexter George, Hassan Mohammed, Devon Lord, Vishaal Narayan
WINDWARD ISLANDS (from): Larry Edward (captain), Tarrych Gabriel, Curtney Louis, Vince Smith, Troy John, Otis Matthews, Ray Jordan, Preston McSween, Keone George, Kelton Cadoo, Gian Benjamin, Dylan Joseph, Briel Thomas, Aljai Liverpool
UMPIRES: Khemraj Barrasingha, Anthony Sanowar
