Parris fighting to be fit

Jason Parris has been appointed Barbados youth team captain for this year's regional Under-19 cricket championship. But the burly opening batsman is still trying to recover from a hand injury that has sidelined him for the last two months.

Parris, a former Ellerslie schoolboy now enrolled at the Barbados Community College, has not played competitively since sustaining a blow to the left hand during the final trial match in late April.

Chairman of selectors Ezra Moseley said Parris was back in training and there was ample time for him to fully recover for the August championship in Guyana.

'He [Parris] has said his hand is not paining him and he's assured me that he is going to be putting in some extra work to try and get up to scratch,' Moseley told WEEKENDSPORT yesterday following the announcement of the 14-man squad on Wednesday night.

'He went into training last Monday, but he missed this Monday because he had a class.'

As part of the recuperating process, Moseley has suggested to Parris that he make an effort to play next weekend in a Division 2 match for Community College.

In discussing the selection of the team, Moseley said it was a fairly difficult job for the panel that also included Jeff Broomes, Richard Straker, George Linton and Hendy Springer.

'All 18 of the guys were in with a very good chance of making the side. After deliberations for a little while, we came up with what we thought was the best 14,' he said.

The biggest talking point will be the non-selection of seasoned leftarm, back-of-the-hand spinner Jedson Yarde.

A consistent performer during the last three championships, Yarde missed out to emerging left-arm spinner Anderson Sealy and leg-spinner Ryan Layne.

'Layne and Sealy have been fairly committed and they were fairly impressive in the trials,' Moseley said.

The edge

'That is what gave them the edge over Yarde, although it was fairly difficult leaving [him] out. That is the way it goes sometimes.'

Sealy, a senior national trial invitee for the 2000 Busta Cup, and Layne, who played for a NorTel Development XI in last year's championship, are among seven newcomers in the Barbados team which will be seeking a second successive title.

The other new caps are opener Mwangi Broomes, wicket-keeper/ batsmen Patrick Browne and Marlon Clarke, fast bowler Corey Edwards and allrounder Ryan Nurse, who also represented the NorTel XI last season.

'The side we have picked seems to be a good one and I'm hoping that we can repeat as champions,' Moseley said.

The squad is completed by vice-captain Rohan Nurse, fellow batsman Vonrick Nurse, all-rounder Dwayne Smith, fast bowlers Antonio Thomas and Marlon Franklyn, and off-spinner Ryan Austin.

Yarde and all-rounder Antoine Roach are reserves, while another allrounder, Derek Bishop, and fast bowler Jason Bennett have been selected for the Development XI.