Jamaica: Busta Cup 16-man squad named (11 January 1999)

11 January 1999

Jamaica: Busta Cup 16-man squad named

The Jamaica Gleaner

Five newcomers to regional four-day cricket were named in Jamaica's 16-man squad for the opening round of the inaugural Busta Cup competition at Sabina Park yesterday.

Heading the list of newcomers is 19-year-old West Indies Youth batsman Christopher Gayle of Lucas Cricket Club who impressed on the recent West Indies A team tour of India after being sent as a replacement for Barbadian Floyd Reifer who went to South Africa to join the senior West Indies squad.

Also new to the squad are 24-year-old St. Catherine pacer Audley Sanson, Kingston's 20-year-old left-arm spinner Ryan Cunningham, 19-year-old West Indies Youth wicketkeeper Matthew Sinclair who now attends G.C. Foster College and former Jamaica Youth player Dwight Mais, 20, who has impressed with his pace and accuracy in the just concluded trial matches.

Cunningham, a former St. George's College Sunlight Cup player and Sanson who played Headley Cup for Garvey Maceo Comprehensive High, were both members of Jamaica's squad to the limited overs tournament at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia last September but have yet to play any first class cricket for the country.

Back in the national squad is Shane Ford who impressed with his wicketkeeping two years ago but surprisingly lost his place to Andre Coley last year.

The full squad is James Adams (captain), Gayle, Sanson, Sinclair, Mais, Cunningham, Robert Samuels, Shane Ford (Melbourne), Leon Garrick (St. Ann), Tony Powell (St. Catherine C.C.), Mario Ventura, Nehemiah Perry (Kingston), Bryan Murphy, Wavell Hinds, Laurie Williams and Kirk Powell (Kensington).

The squad will be joined by former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh and Franklyn Rose on their return from the current tour in South Africa.

"There were no surprises in our selection, we have five newcomers and our chances are as good as any to win the inaugural Busta Cup. The batsmen just have to go out there and hold their heads down and bat," chairman of selectors Basil Williams said after the squad was named. Jamaica's opening match is against the Leeward Islands at Sabina Park starting on Friday.

James Adams X1 179 (James Adams 73, Wavell Hinds 70; Audley Sanson 4-41, Nehemiah Perry 3-43) and 251 for seven declared (James Adams 80, Laurie Williams 75 not out; Audley Sanson 3-66);

Robert Samuels X1 286 (Tony Powell 86, Nehemiah Perry 56, Bryan Murphy 56, Robert Samuels 44; Dwight Mais 4-58) and 117 for two (Robert Samuels 60, Mario Ventura 30 not out).

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