ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Kieran Powell has earned plaudits from West Indies A head coach Floyd Reifer, for his captaincy during the ongoing three-match four-day “Tests” series against England Lions.
The Test opener has overseen a surprise series win over the visitors, after Windies A won the opening “Test” in Trelawny by two wickets before pulling off an innings victory inside three days in the second match in Kingston last week.
“I thought the captain Powell did a very good job in leading the team,” said Reifer, in his first series as head coach of the side.
“He led from the front in terms of making good calculated decisions on the field, he was very tactical.
“He was always in the game, keeping players involved in the game and that’s a good sign for us because it shows that we have young leaders in the Caribbean as well.”
He added: “I think the future is good for our cricket but we just need to tie up a lot of loose ends in terms of the development of cricketers in the Caribbean.”
Left-hander Powell is a member of the senior West Indies side, and has already played 31 Tests and 39 One-Day Internationals, but with limited success.
With upcoming home series against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Powell along with Test teammates Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich and Raymon Reifer, were included in the Windies A squad in order to strengthen their claims for selection.
Wicketkeeper Dowrich wasted little time in grabbing attention as he stroked 119 in the first innings of the opening “Test”, to lay the groundwork for the hosts victory.
“Shane’s innings was a very good innings, under pressure. [The] team was in trouble and the partnership between himself and (Jomel) Warrican, that was brilliant, it was awesome … it showed guts and determination,” Reifer explained.
“Both of them ground it out, they showed good grind. That partnership kind of swung the tide in terms of how the series went.” Jahmar Hamilton, a late addition for the second “Test”, made the most of the opportunity to chalk up his sixth first class century with exactly 100.
The right-hander was coming off an ordinary first class season where he managed a miserable 237 runs at an average of 16, and Reifer said the performance would have been a boost for the player’s confidence.
“Hamilton coming in at the last minute, I thought he batted well. He showed good guts and good fight and he fought all the way through the innings,” Reifer said.
“As he got in, he started to accelerate the innings and played some lovely shots so I am happy for him after coming off a not so good first class season. For him, a hundred against England should give him the world of confidence.”
He added: “There is talent there and once the guys are prepared to work hard we will see results. Once the coaching staff continues to work hard and the players continue to work hard with the coaching staff, you will see results.”
The day/night third and final four-day “Test” bowled off yesterday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
