Skipper of the Antigua Hawksbill, Marlon Samuels and Jamaica Tallawahs
Head coach Paul Nixon yesterday said their respective teams remain in good spirits despite losing their opening matches of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL).
During an exclusive interview yesterday Samuels noted that he and his men have put the woes from the first game behind them and are looking forward to this second encounter as the boys are in “good spirits” and will be going out to “play some hard cricket.”
He noted that his players are still happy and said that their confidence was not broken by any means. Samuels also suggested that there might be a bit of concern surrounding Australian batsman Ben Rohrer, who was apparently carrying an injury.
He did suggest that the injury might be altogether too serious and that Rohrer might be fit for today’s game.
Samuels said that the presence of Australian legend, Ricky Ponting in the Hawksbill camp will be a great experience for the young players in the team and added that the young players should follow his lifestyle, given the fact that at his age, the passion, fitness and love for the game is still high even after his resignation from international cricket.
The Jamaican stated that it was good to have both Ponting and Sir Vivian Richards in the camp adding that they bring everything to the team who was fitting in well with the two legends.
From the Tallawahs perspective, their coach admitted that the team was disappointed and acknowledged that the team made errors after the eighth wicket hammering they took on Friday.
He also stated that the Jamaicans played poorly while the Warriors brought their “A Game.”
Concerning Friday night’s game he stated that his team lost too many early wickets and eventually played “catch up cricket”, while the dew factor was something that the team will now take into consideration for today’s match.
Nixon also said that Chris Gayle’s early dismissal was unfortunate adding that the opening batsman wanted to spend time in the middle.
No one had declared has “more pride and resilience” more than Gayle.
Gayle, Ahmed Shahzad, Jacques Rudolph and Jamaicans Danza Hyatt and Andre Russell along with Carlton Baugh Jr., and Dave Bernard Jr., will be depended upon to bring their `A’ game today along with bowlers such as, Andrew Richardson and Vernon Philander.
The Antigua Hawksbill will look for on-field contributions from the legend Ponting, who will be aiming to make up from his failure in the last game, skipper Samuels, Johnson Charles, Justin Kemp, Rohrer and Kieran Powell.
Their bowlers such as Dave Mohamed and Sheldon Cotterell, Kemar Roach and Gavin Tonge will look to make inroads early tomorrow.
The Tallawahs are last on the points table and Hawksbill third; they will now seek to leave Guyana with a win under one of their belts, before they depart these shores for the remainder of the tournament.
Jamaican Tallawahs: Chris Gayle, Muttiah Muralitharan, Andre Russell, Andrew Richardson, Vernon Philander, Danza Hyatt, Carlton Baugh, Nikita Miller, Jacques Rudolph, Chadwick Walton, Jermaine Blackwood, Akeem Dewar, Dave Bernard, Nkrumah Bonner.
Antigua Hawksbill: Marlon Samuels, Ricky Ponting, Kieran Powell, Johnson Charles, Kemar Roach, Steven Smith, Sheldon Cotterell, Dave Mohammed, Devon Thomas, Gavin Tonge, Justin Kemp, Rakheem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Anthony Martin, Montcin Hodge.
