KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-Jamaica’s captain Tamar Lambert has identified defending champions Trinidad and Tobago as his country’s main threat in the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament starting in Port of Spain on Sunday.
However the Jamaican skipper has also admitted that the race for the coveted title could be wide open because of the number of good teams taking part.
Lambert’s comments come a week before the team departs for the January 6-22 tournament jointly hosted in Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia.
“I would say that Trinidad is the main threat, but having said that, there are a lot of good teams in the competition,” said Lambert, who guided Jamaica to a record fifth-straight hold on the West Indies four-day title last season.
“There is Barbados, which have a fairly balanced team, Guyana, who won the tournament two years ago and the Windward Islands, who made it to the semi-finals last year. They all have good players who on their day can be match-winners”.
All-rounder Dwayne Bravo, mystery spinner Sunil Narine and big hitting Kieron Pollard are among world Twenty/20 stars to bolster the Red Force chances.
However Lambert is boasting that Jamaica will be fielding potential match winners despite not having Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels due the Australian Big Bash currently underway.
Lambert’s squad is a blend of youth and experience and includes Krishmar Santokie, Danza Hyatt, David Bernard Jr. and Nikita Miller.
“We have a nice blend of experienced and unknown players, which could work in our favour,” said Lambert.
“I have seen these young players in action and they have come a long way over the past three months, which could surprise a lot of teams.”
The Caribbean Twenty20 will bowl off on Sunday with Jamaica facing Trinidad and Tobago at 8 p.m. (eastern Caribbean time) at Queen’s Park Oval.
