Assistant Coach of the Windward Islands Volcanoes, Fernix Thomas, said the team is set to erupt today in their showdown against table toppers, Guyana Jaguars in the Cricket West Indies Regional Four-Day tournament.
The two sides will clash in a fourth-round encounter at the Providence National Stadium from today and Thomas, the former Windwards fast bowler, attributes this confidence to the come-from-behind victory over Jamaica Scorpions in the previous round.
They have now won two of their three matches, their only loss coming at the hands of the Jaguars in the first round.
Thomas opined that the team is equally balanced but admitted that they have been dependent on their bowling as their strength.
“We are an all-round team, basically we have been bowling out teams in the three matches we played. Our bowling is mainly our strength and our batting has shown once we put our heads down we can do the work.”
Volcanoes’ ace bowler, Shane Shillingford is out of the match and Thomas said the loss was a big blow for his team.
“Shillingford is this person who always give you his all and gets results, as you saw in Jamaica he was not there and the bowlers took 20 wickets so yes we are missing Shillingford and his absence is a great loss for us.”
Volcanoes will be further depleted without Sunil Ambris who will be departing for the West Indies Board XI along with Vishaul Singh, Chandrapaul Hemraj and Raymon Reifer of the Jaguars.
“The spirit is really high and that is what is expected when you come-from-behind and win a game on the road and once you winning on the road that adds the positive energy in the team,” he said.
Looking at the first round the assistant coach stated: “We felt we should have beaten Guyana in the first round. We have worked on our mistakes and we continue to work had and see it as something we look forward to when playing Guyana a good challenge.”
Jaguars is set to include Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul in their side but Thomas brushed off any indication of Volcanoes seeing them as potential threats in the side.
“Guyana has played without them and beaten almost everybody, they are good cricketers and they show that on the regional scene, we have a lot of respect for them, it’s always a good competition between the two teams and we expect that.”
Thomas said the wicket is what is expected of a Guyana wicket.
“Looks like a normal wicket that will spin suitably for [Veerasammy] Permaul, who we have respect for, but we know what we have and who plays the better cricket on the day.”
