Nortel Championship: Going in with spin (13 July 1999)

13 July 1999

Nortel Championship: Going in with spin

Philip Spooner

The Barbados selectors have put an interesting spin to their line-up for today's opening game of the Nortel West Indies Under-19 cricket three-day championship.

Manager Darnley Boxill yesterday announced that the host team would be showcasing an unfamiliar four-pronged spin combination against the Windward Islands at Kensington Oval at 10 a.m.

"It's all about combinations," said Boxill, as he spoke from the team's South Coast hotel. "It depends a lot on who we are playing against. We are treating things match by match, but, most importantly, we want to start with a win.

"To win means so much to us. It is desirable to have best combination for this game, in terms of balance and effectiveness."

He added that it was no secret that over the years the Windwards had shown weakness against slow bowling and this prompted the selectors to go in with the left-arm trio of captain Ryan Hinds, Suleiman Benn and Jedson Yarde and off-spinner Ryan Austin.

All four are capable of playing different roles. Allrounder Hinds, who made his first-class debut this year, is a specialist bat, but could easily be selected for his controlled orthodox deliveries.

Benn, tall and slender, is in his second year at this level and provides a steady and persistent option for his captain, while Yarde is a capable match-winner with his back-of-the-hand variety.

Austin provides guile and variation and, according to Boxill, the bowlers can all "hold their own with the bat" and this weighed in their favour.

Boxill also said the selectors took into consideration the unpredictable weather which left the outfields so damp yesterday that the teams were unable to practice. The Meteorological Office at the Grantley Adams Airport forecast a "fair to partly cloudy day, with only a few early morning showers".

"The weather is a factor you have to live with but we still have to approach the game in a positive way," the manager said. "Also with the spinners we can get in more overs in a limited period."

The new ball goes to Callitos Lopez, the talented allrounder in his third year at this level, and Antonio Thomas, the pacy 16-year-old. The back-up seam could come from Vonrick Nurse, a bubbly allrounder who bats as high as No.5.

The rest of the batting is settled, with left-hander Jason Haynes being partnered by the heavy-set Jason Parris at the top of the order. The free-scoring Kurt Wilkinson, Hinds, Nurse and wicket-keeper Damien Maynard make up the rest of the middle-order.

The Windwards arrived only yesterday from a coaching camp in Grenada.

The other games present some interesting contests. In Zone B the Nortel Development XI take on Guyana at Market Hill in the other Zone B match. The Development side, chosen from among the best of the reserves, is headed by Barbadian Randy Graham, with former Barbados and West Indies pacer Ezra Moseley as manager.

In Zone A defending champs Jamaica take on Trinidad and Tobago at Wildey, while the scenic Windward Cricket Club, in St. Philip, makes its debut as Canada oppose the Leeward Islands.

The Jamaicans appear strong on paper, being led by the knowledgeable Tamar Lambert and also including Marlon Samuels, who made his first-class debut as far back as two years ago.

Along with these two, the batting features the high-touted Carlton Baugh Jr., who rewrote the record books with 284 in a schools' match this year.

The Trinidad squad will be coached by former West Indies pacer Tony Gray, and includes Sherwin Ganga, the brother of West Indies batsman Daren, and allrounder Devon Rogers, the nephew of West Indies pacer Merv Dillon.

"We need to be a little more aggressive when it comes to the batting," Gray said before leaving Port-of-Spain. "Once our batsmen give our bowlers runs to go at, the bowlers just have to be patient."

The family connections also extend to the Leeward Islands team. Tonito Willett, the son of former Test spinner Elquemido Willett, is in the middle order, but Mali Richards, the 17-year-old son of West Indies great Sir Viv Richards, pulled out at the last minute.

Manager Ralph Hodge said yesterday that Richards would be replaced by Zachary Kenworthy of Anguilla.

Source :: The Barbados Nation