Busta Cup: Jamaica will do well, says Coach Haynes (5 January 1999)

5 January 1999

Busta Cup: Jamaica will do well, says Coach Haynes

The Jamaica Gleaner

Confidence is high in Jamaica's training camp ahead of next week's start of the regional Busta Cup cricket competition.

Jamaica which finished third in last year's regional (Pres-ident's Cup) tournament behind winners Guyana and runners-up Leeward Island 'have the best overall chance of winning' according to coach Robert Haynes.

"Looking at the teams competing in the Busta Cup, I think Jamaica have the best overall chance of winning because we've got the core of the squad that performed quite well last year. However, in order for us to win, the batsmen must apply themselves. They must show character and the bowlers need to be consistent in line and length," Haynes said.

"I think the Leeward Islands are our biggest threat. They still have a balanced team with top players like Keith Atherton, Kenneth Benjamin and Whitmore Quinn.

Jamaica are scheduled to play their first game in the four-day competition against the Leeward islands at Sabina Park starting on Friday, January 15. The squad will be named next Sunday following the final trial match.

Haynes spoke of the improvements which have taken place since training for the competition began.

"The concentration of the batsmen has improved quite a lot. We are now more able to iron flaws in their foot movement because we now have a video which is used in training. After each session we sit down and analyse each player," Haynes said.

"We are presently working on the squad's mental preparation. I expect our batsmen to do very well because some of them will be eyeing selection on the West Indies team especially with what is happening in South Africa.

"Robert Samuels, Leon Garrick Wavell Hinds would all be aiming to score heavily to enhance their chances of playing against Australia. Captain Jimmy Adams who was selected for the South African tour but was not able to take part will also want to get among the runs, so too Tony Powell and Christopher Gayle.

"I am impressed by the fitness level of the bowlers and a lot of credit must go to David Bernard, the team's physical instructor," Haynes said.

The former Jamaica legspinner said he was impressed with young pacer Dwight Mais.

"He reminds me of a young Ambrose. He has the same action, he has stamina and with a little experience he is going to be a force to be reckoned with in a few years," Haynes said.

"In the spin bowling department no bowler has gotten five or more wickets in a trial match to date but I am happy with the line and length that they are bowling. What we are looking for however is a bowler who can be a match winner. We have Murphy (Bryan) who, on his day, can be a match winner plus Ryan Cunningham who is bowling pretty well. So generally I am happy with what I am seeing."

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)