Jamaica Venue Will Be Good For Barbados, say Philo (5 October 1998)

5 October 1998

Jamaica Venue Will Be Good For Barbados, say Philo

by Haydn Gill

Philo Wallace feels the choice of Jamaica as a venue will make a major difference in Barbados' quest to win the regional One-Day competition for the first time in a decade.

After the disappointment of the last two seasons in which Barbados made little impression while contesting the preliminary rounds in Guyana, the captain thinks his team is much better suited to the conditions in Jamaica for the forthcoming Red Stripe Bowl.

"We haven't won a One-Day competition in a very long time and I think this is the best chance we will have in winning," Wallace told NATIONSPORT yesterday, moments after hitting an impressive 76 for Big B Spartan in a Barbados Fire & Commercial Cup match against Yorkshire at Friendship, St. Michael.

"The wickets in Jamaica suit us a lot better. We like the ball coming on to the bat and our bowlers, especially Patterson Thompson and Pedro Collins, also bowl particularly well in Jamaica.

"Going there will give us a lot of confidence. In Guyana the wickets were low and slow and we didn't adjust as quickly as well as we should."

In the last two tournaments, Barbados' only wins in Guyana were recorded against lightweights Bermuda and Canada, and on both occasions, they failed to make it past the preliminaries.

Coincidentally, when Barbados last won the regional One-Day title in 1998, the final was played in Jamaica. In addition, when they last contested a preliminary zone in Jamaica (1995), they topped the standings on the way to making the final.

In the absence of experienced fast bowling all-rounders Ottis Gibson and Vasbert Drakes, Wallace said a lot would depend on the batting.

"It's time for the batsmen to really buckle down and score lots of runs. The key to winning is how well we bat," the tall, aggressive opener said.

The Barbados captain identified a bowler he thinks will be crucial.

"Our attack is a bit inexperienced. Winston Reid will have to shoulder the bulk of the bowling for the first time in a long time; I know he'll do it." Wallace said of the veteran left-arm spinner.

Wallace, 27, fresh from a commendable performance in the Commonwealth Games, is happy with his batting form.

"The form is okay and the fitness is good. I just want to go on. Consistency is going to be the key to my success," he said.

"Once I get runs the team will benefit. We can put some decent scores and hopefully defend them well."

He rated defending champions Leeward Islands as the toughest team in their zone, but said hosts Jamaica and first-timers United States could not be underestimated.

The tournament opens tomorrow, but Barbados' first match is on Thursday against the Leewards at Alpart in south-west Jamaica.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)