Looking towards a creditable improvement on the team’s dismal showing last year when it failed to win a match in the regional Clico Under-15 tournament, the national junior selectors have named a 14-man squad to participate in this year’s competition that is slated for Dominica from March 17-23.
Kwame Crosse who led Demerara to victory over Berbice in the just-concluded Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Castrol sponsored Inter-County tournament will lead the side and he will have in his team right arm leg spinner Amir Khan and Berbice captain Jamally Odle along with Joemal La Fleur and Gudakesh Khanai Motie.
Khan, La Fleur and Motie all made their debuts last year and much is expected from them this year as they seek to redeem themselves at this level and win their first regional Under-15 title since the introduction of the competition in 1996.
Notable omission from the squad is Demerara opener Alex Ramalho who had a successful stint with the bat in both the Demerara Cricket Board’s (DCB) Inter-Association competition as well as the Castrol Inter-County competition.
Crosse will have a variety of players to choose from including Jahron Byron, Dayanand Roopnarine, Clinton Pestano and Safraz Esau who are all capable batsmen. Esaun can also handle himself well behind the stumps, displaying good lateral movement that augurs well for his future as a wicket keeper.
There are only two fast bowlers in the squad in Sharmindra Hardyal and Kevin Fredericks along with Crosse who dabbles with some medium pace, while Neil Barry Jnr has been placed on the standby list alongside Ramalho.
The spin department is in the capable hands of left arm orthodox bowlers Khan, who got a helmet trick in the match against Essequibo and Raj Nanan, Motie, La Fleur, Byron and Jagdesh Bishun.
Taking into consideration the showing of these players during the Inter-County tournament as well as in the three trial matches, there is no way this bunch of players under the guidance of Vibert Johnson (Coach) and Ian John (Manager) should return home without success even though their preparation began late.
The 14-man squad reads: Kwame Crosse (captain), Jamally Odle (vice captain), Joemal La Fleur, Dominique Ricky, Jahron Byron, Dayanand Roopnarine, Clinton Pestano, Safraz Esau, Amir Khan, Jagdesh Bishun, Gudakesh Khanai Motie, Sharmindra Hardyal, Kevin Fredericks and Raj Nanan. Vibert Johnson (coach) and Ian John (manager).
The six standbys are: Neil Barry Jnr, Alex Ramalho, Rensford Beaton, Andy Mohan, Lloydel Lewis and Chanderpaul Hemraj.
