PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Barbados Pride will look to navigate the pressure that comes with the defence of a title when they bowl off their NAGICO Super50 campaign against the dangerous Combined Colleges and Campuses at the National Cricket Centre here Thursday.
The game is one of two set for the opening day of the tournament with Guyana Jaguars and Windward Island Volcanoes squaring off in a day/night game at Queen’s Park Oval, starting at 1:30 pm.
Pride won the competition last year when they trounced hosts Trinidad and Tobago in the final but with their team weakened by the loss of key players, and the pressure of the title defence hanging over their heads, they are expected to have their work cut out for them.
Head coach Henderson Springer was under no illusions about the challenges before his side.
“It puts you under a lot of pressure. First, being the champions, and secondly, having some of our key players from last year away on West Indies duty,” said the former national off-spinner.
“But we can use these as a positive thing and this can be opportunity for the young players that have not played One-day cricket for our team for some time to come into the side and make a name for themselves.”
He continued: “We have some dynamic players away. People like Dwayne Smith, Carlos Brathwaite, Sulieman Benn and Jason Holder, but there are a few players who sat on the sidelines last year that now have an opportunity to play well and make a name for themselves.”
Pride still boast the likes of out-of-favour fast bowler Tino Best, West Indies batsman Kirk Edwards and former Test speedster Fidel Edwards, all of whom can be match winners on their day.
Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite has returned from South Africa to take his place in the squad and he will be joined in the batting department by Edwards, the experienced Ryan Hinds and the likes of captain Kevin Stoute and rookie Shai Hope.
“Kirk Edwards did not play last year and will be looking to stamp his authority on this tournament. Kevin Stoute is our captain and he will be the first to tell you that he did not get the numbers he wanted,” Springer explained.
“But I think all have something to prove, including Tino Best, who was part of the competition squad and did not play a single match.”
He added: “I want to see a good, all-round team effort. Players have different responsibilities within the team, but I want a good all-round effort to see that everybody has gotten an opportunity to do the business, rather than depend on one, two or three people.
“If one, two or three people do well however, the other players have to be ready just in case the form players fall below expectations.”
Jaguars, meanwhile, will look to extend their form which saw them dominate the early rounds of the four-day competition late last year, and top the tables heading into the Christmas break.
They will be motivated by the fact they have now gone seven years without a one-day title and will hope to take out their frustration on Volcanoes.
“We know it has been a long time since we have not won the title and it has been very disappointing the way we have been playing in recent times with the talent and combination of our team,” head coach Esaun Crandon said.
“We found a formula for winning towards the end of last year in the WICB PCL and we are happy with the work we have done to prepare for this tournament, so we want to continue in that vein. This however, is a different version of the game and it can go either way.”
Jaguars play alongside the CCC, Volcanoes and Pride in Group A of the competition while Group B comprises Jamaica Franchise, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, West Indies Under-19s.