V Thompson: Jamaica - Contracted players anxious for action (31 Jul 1997)

July 31, 1997

Contracted players anxious for action

Versel Thompson, Gleaner Sports Writer

WEST INDIES wicketkeeper/ batsman Junior Murray has welcomed the Jamaica Cricket Board's initiative to stage the County Championships and is looking forward to taking part in the competition.

Murray arrived here at midday yesterday along with compatriot Rawle Lewis, Guyanese leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo, hard-hitting Barbados opening batsman and captain Philo Wallace and his countryman Patterson Thompson.

They are among the contracted West Indies players who will participate in an Emancipation Day limited overs game between a West Indies XI and a Jamaica XI at Melbourne Oval tomorrow and then the County Championships which begin on Saturday.

Murray, who made his debut here as a youth player in 1987 and who has been in and out of the West Indies team, said he has always enjoyed playing cricket in Jamaica and is happy for the opportunity to play here in the County championships as well as to take part in the country's Emancipation Day celebrations.

"It (County Championships) is a welcome move for West Indies players like myself to keep in tune with our game as we move forward," Murray said.

Pacer Thompson and leg-spinner Lewis also supported the concept.

"This is a great idea to have the pro-league here in the West Indies to support our cricketers and not to just let them go off all the way to England," Thompson said.

Lewis said, "I don't know about the teams which will be playing but as long as the games are keenly contested I will be quite happy."

Meanwhile, West Indies all-rounder Carl Hooper was expected to arrive in the island late yesterday and Trinidadians Ian Bishop, Mervyn Dillon and Phil Simmons are expected today.

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