Captains and Coaches discuss their chances of winning a title
Jason’s Holder
Devon Thomas
Sunil Ambris
Leon Johnson
AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA (Photo credit should read GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP via Getty Images)
Rovman Powell
Kieron Pollard
Kaieteur News – St John’s, Antigua – West Indies Cricket (CWI) today confirmed a host of top West Indies players who will be taking part in February’s CG Insurance Super50 Cup, as the six teams complete their 15-member squads.
The six major cricket competitors will go head-to-head in 19 action-packed 50-over matches starting from Sunday, February 7. The tournament will reach an exciting climax when the new champions are crowned on Saturday, February 27.
Fans can watch the matches live from Coolidge Cricket Ground on ESPN Caribbean and live matches from Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on the CWI website and YouTube channel.
West Indies white ball captain Kieran Pollard will be in charge of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force while Test captain Jason Holder will take charge of Barbados Pride.
West Indies cricket cream and a host of exciting young talent will take part including players such as Roston Chase (Barbados Pride), Shimron Hetmyer (Guyana Jaguars), Sheldon Cottrell (Jamaica Scorpions), Hayden Walsh Jr. (Hurricane Leeward), Nicholas Pooran (Trinidad and Tobago Red Force) and Andre Fletcher (Windward Islands Volcanoes).
While covid-19-related restrictions mean that the 2019-2020 Champions, the New West Indies Players, cannot defend their title, eight of those talented young winners of the 2019 tournament have found spots in the competing franchise teams, including Keon Harding, Dominic Drakes and Justin Greaves (Barbados Pride), Kevin Sinclair (Guyana Jaguars), Ashmead Neath (Hurricane Leeward Islands), Jayden Seales (Trinidad and Tobago Red Force) as well as, Kimani Melius and Roland Cato (Windward Islands Volcanoes).
The tournament is expected to end when the home team Hurricane Leewards hosts host competitors of the Wind Island Volcanoes at Coolidge Cricket Ground on Sunday, February 7.
Full Squads – Barbados Pride: Jason Holder (Captain), Joshua Bishop, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Zachary McCaskie, Ashley Nurse , Tevyn Walcott; Dexter Toppin (Head Coach).
Guyana Jaguars: Leon Johnson (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer (Lieutenant), Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Asad Fudadin, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Tevin Imlach, Keon Joseph, Ramaal Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Akshaya Persaud, Kemol Savory, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith; Esuan Crandon (Head Coach).
Jamaican Scorpions: Rovman Powell (Captain), Derval Green (Lieutenant), Fabian Allen, Dennis Bulli, Sheldon Cottrell, Javel Glenn, Brandon King, Andre McCarthy, Jamie Merchant, Romaine Morris, Paul Palmer, Jeavor Royal, Odean Smith, Aldaine Thomas, Oshane Thomas; Andre Coley (Head Coach).
Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Devon Thomas (captain), Montcin Hodge (Lieutenant), Colin Archibald, Sheno Berridge, Quinton Boatswain, Keacy Carty, Nino Henry, Amir Jangoo, Nitish Kumar, Jeremiah Louis, Ashmead Neath, Kieran Powell, Ross Powell , Hayden Walsh Jr, Terance Warde; Stuart Williams (Head Coach).
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Darren Bravo (Lieutenant), Akeal Hosein, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kjorn Ottley, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Anderson Phillip, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Jayden Seales, Lendl Simmons; David Furlonge (Head Coach).
Windward Islands Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris (Captain), Andre Fletcher (Lieutenant), Alick Athanaze, Roland Cato, Keron Cottoy, Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Ryan John, Ray Jordan, Desron Maloney, Obed McCoy, Preston McSween, Kimani Melius , Emmanuel Stewart, Kevin Stoute; Andrew Richardson (Head Coach).
From inside the camps – Jason Holder (Barbados Pride Captain): “We are really looking forward to the first tournament of the year. It’s great to be back and there’s a lot of excitement in our camp. We focus on winning. It will be important to hold our nerve under pressure and act under pressure. The most consistent team always wins, and we have to look to be consistent and win for our country and our supporters. ”
Esuan Crandon (Head Coach of Guyana Jaguars): “We have a very balanced squad. We will be boosted by the presence of Shimron Hetmyer and Romario Shepherd, two players with international experience who can be our game winners. Our training has been going pretty well and we know we have to play fearless cricket and take one game at a time. We will try to put it all together … we are very confident. ”
Andre Coley (Head Coach of Jamaica Scorpions): “It’s really important that we get off to a good start. It’s a shorter tournament than last time so we have to hit the ground running and build from there. We’ve put together a strong squad that we believe can be a winning team. Everyone is very ready to go and wants to play. It’s great to be back playing regional cricket for the first time since last year, so this CG Insurance Super50 Cup is a big deal for us. ”
Andrew Richardson (Head Coach of Windwards Volcanoes): “Our preparations have been good. The players have done a lot of work and we’re in a much better physical and mental state … they definitely look so much better than six months ago, we’re in a refined mood. Our batting looks good and one important factor is that we have to use the power overplay when we are at the top and not have to play catch-up cricket. We’re looking to win … we’re always playing to win. ”
Kieron Pollard (Captain of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force): “I think we have a very good team of youth and experience and we can go that step further and reach it in the finals. In the last few years we lost out, reached the semi-finals and were beaten, once by CCC and once by Leewards. Hopefully we have all the energy and all the gas in the tank and go all the way. This promises to be a very good tournament and I know that players will aim to impress and enhance their careers. ”
Stuart Williams (Head Coach of Hurricane Leewards): “The players look extremely sharp and energetic during training. They are enthusiastic and want to go one better than the last tournament, where we reached the final but lost to the Emerging Players. This year, we are preparing well … we are leaving no stone unturned, and with local knowledge that should work in our favor too. We have great talent and we want to see them grow as a team and as individuals. “