West Indies domestic: Winds of change
The Leeward Islands Cricket Association announced last week a `new-look' Leeward Islands training squad of 24 that will begin preparations for the upcoming Busta Cup 2001 in early January
Zach Kenworthy
25-Nov-2000
The Leeward Islands Cricket Association announced last week a `new-look'
Leeward Islands training squad of 24 that will begin preparations for the
upcoming Busta Cup 2001 in early January. It is a positive move by the
Leeward's selectors after an embarrassing series of events that lead to many
disgruntled fans and cricket officials throughout the Leewards and the West
Indies during the Red Stripe Bowl.
Notable omissions from the squad are ex-West Indies' batsmen Keith
Arthurton, Dave Joseph and Anthony Lake, who have all under performed in
recent times.
The selectors have asked for Nevision, Stuart Williams to lead the Leeward
Islands into the tournament with the level-headed Kittitian, Colin Cannonier
as his deputy. Williams is still a serious threat at the first-class level
while Cannonier has continued to impress many cricket fans throughout the
region with his resolute batting and his obvious focus for the game.
Anguillian star batsmen and Leeward Islands Tournament single innings record
holder, Alex Adams is once again in the squad and will be hoping, with this
new, younger team, to regain his opening position that has been inexplicably
eluding his grasp. Adams, who undoubtedly is the most successful batsmen in
the last three years of the Leeward Islands Tournament, has had a string of
unlucky breaks. However, Adams has stuck at his task and has not been
perturbed by his misfortunes and continues to be ever-present in the minds
of regional cricket fans.
Young and promising Anguillian all-rounders Omari Banks and Chaka Hodge have
also been selected to the squad and will be in search of a first team
selection as they are the lone offspinners in the squad. Banks was recently
selected to the West Indies Under 19 team as the third highest
run-accumulator in the West Indies Under 19 Tournament this past July.
Hodge, who claimed the second highest tally of wickets in the same
tournament was unlucky not to be selected for the West Indies' Youth Squad
but will not doubt want to redeem is misfortune.
Aggressive Anguillian pacer, Marlon Martin has also been selected to the
24-man squad and will no doubt be firing on all cylinders as he realises his
opportunity to gain selection through his cousin's (Kerry Jeremy) selection
to the West Indies tour of Australia. Martin had another solid year in the
last Leeward Island Tournament and should, with recent form, be pressing for
a first team spot.
Full squad reads:- Stuart Williams, Joel Simmons, Carl Tuckett, Sylvester
Browne, Tonitto Willet, Runako Morton (Nevis), Alex
Adams, Omari Banks, Chaka Hodge, Marlon Martin (Anguilla), Colin Cannonier,
Junie Mitchum, Sheldon Jeffers, Shane Jeffers, Codville Rogers, Elsroy
Powell, Jason Williams (St. Kitts), Wilden Cornwall, Sylvester Joseph,
Goldwyn Prince, Ian Tittle, Ricky Christopher (Antigua), Tyrone Greenaway,
Devon Williams (Montserrat)