Jamaica, West Indies XI in showdown (1 Aug 1997)

August 1, 1997

Jamaica, West Indies XI in showdown

The Gleaner

The first of four sports events to mark Jamaica's return to the celebration of Emancipation takes place at Melbourne Oval today with a strong Jamaica X1 taking on a West Indies X1 in a 40-over contest starting at 10 o'clock.

The historic match, which will be broadcast live on JBC television from 11.30, will be attended by Governor General Sir Howard Cooke and Prime Minister P. J. Patterson who will participate in the opening ceremony which gets underway at 9.15 and which will include the flag-raising, the national anthem, marching band, an address by the Prime Minister and the presentation of the teams to the Governor General, the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga, President of the NDM Bruce Golding, Sports Minister Portia Simpson and other dignitaries.

The Governor General, a former captain of the St. James parish team, will be on the pitch to witness the toss of the coin by Jamaica's captain Courtney Walsh. The Prime Minister will bowl the first ball.

Apart from Walsh, the Jamaica X1 includes Test batsman Robert Samuels, Test fast bowler Franklyn Rose, one-day international all-rounder Laurie Williams, and Patrick Patterson - the former West Indies fast bowler who was once rated the fastest in the world.

Also in the squad of 13 are Andre Coley - a former West Indies Youth wicketkeeper and Carl Wright - one of the exciting batsmen in Jamaica's team which will participate in this month's Nortel youth tournament in Guyana.

Apart from captain Carl Hooper, the West Indies X1 includes a number of players who have represented the West Indies in Test matches and one-day internationals - fast bowlers Nixon McLean and Mervyn Dillon, batsmen Phil Simmons and Philo Wallace, wicketkeeper Junior Murray, all-rounder Otis Gibson, and right-arm legspinner Dinanath Ramnarine.

Also in action, as a batsman, will be Jeffrey Dujon - the former Jamaica and West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman.

The teams: West Indies X1 - Carl Hooper - captain, Phil Simmons, Philo Wallace, Junior Murray, Jeffrey Dujon, Nixon McLean, Rawle Lewis, Mervyn Dillon, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Dinanath Ramnarine and Angelo Bass.

Jamaica X1, from Courtney Walsh - captain, Leon Garrick, Robert Samuels, Wavel Hinds, Tony Powell, Mario Ventura, Andre Coley, Patrick Patterson, Franklyn Rose, Kirk Powell, Delroy Morgan, Laurie Williams and Carl Wright.

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