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. 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)