West Indies test captain, Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Jonathan Carter will suit up for Barbados Pride when they face Guyana Jagaurs from today in round eight of the West Indies Championships.
Pride Head Coach, Emmerson Trotman believes their inclusion is critical due to the outcome of the contest.
The pink ball contest at the Providence National Stadium, which starts at 14.00 hours, could see Pride attaining an unassailable lead in the points table. They are currently 30.2 points ahead of second-placed defending champions, Guyana Jaguars, who need a win to stay alive in the race for championship honours.
Speaking exclusively to this publication, Trotman said, “Well, those guys are available to us and whenever they are available they will play. They bring experience and knowledge. The guys love to have them around and it lifts the spirit of the whole team as well so they are very important for us.”
Trotman said that the inclusion of Roach, who has taken 21 wickets from four matches this season, brings an extra motivation for the fast bowlers, who have set Pride above the others. A wicket from a seamer, accounts for 0.2 points.
“The fast bowlers have done well and the reason for that is they are led very nicely by the senior bowlers like Kemar Roach. “The youngsters look up to him, he is a very good motivator and we’ve got Vasbert Drakes, who knows a lot about bowling and they executed well. You know they pay a lot of attention and are full of confidence,” he said.
Holder, who will make his first appearance in the competition this season, also boosts the seam department and comes with 181 first-class wickets under his belt to go with his 2580 runs with the bat.
Carter will also add strength to the line-up with his all-round ability. This season he has scored 155 runs from seven innings and picked up five wickets.
The Head Coach said:“It is a crucial game obviously, Guyana are the defending champions and we are looking forward to being the champions so it is very important to both sides.”
Trotman explained that as a team, they have the experience of playing with the pink ball but admitted that the Jaguars is not a team to be taken lightly adding that they will have to come good if they are to secure a win.
“It’s a day and night encounter. The guys have played this before so we are not worried at all. It’s just a game against Guyana. We have to make sure that we stay focused. The whole idea is to come and win it and give ourselves some breathing space but Guyana is a good side, it is not a team you can just walk over so we have to play good cricket and hopefully, we can come out successful,” he declared.
Despite losing to Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the previous round, Trotman said that the team remains motivated.
“Coming from a loss like that gives us motivation. It gives time to think and just remind us we can’t get complacent. Playing Trinidad in Trinidad is never easy and it didn’t go our way but we came out with a very positive frame of mind and we are looking forward to a win here,” he stated. Barbados Pride: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Shamarah Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Shayne Moseley, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican
