Head coach of the West Indies women’s squad Courtney Walsh said he is excited to work with new talent Mandy Mangru after positive feedback about her game.
Speaking of Mangru, the Guyanese all-rounder, who joins five other Guyanese players in the camp, Walsh admitted that he has not seen much of her but from reports, he anticipates an exciting experience.
“We spoke to her briefly as well. I’ve not seen her play. I’m not going to go around the corner on that, but I had very good reports and then we had her shortlisted and at a right age, she is young and I’ve seen some video clips of her, and I was telling someone that based on what I’ve seen, I’m really excited to be bringing her into the camp as well because we see some natural talent there.
Walsh feels that Mangru can benefit from being exposed to the camp despite her tender age.
“So the camp exposure, the experience that she’s getting from it, and …if she’s good enough to get into the setup, I’m not going stop her because she’s the youngest. If she’s good enough, young enough, by all means I’m excited about what I’ve seen with her.”
Walsh also told media operatives that, apart from Mangru, there are five other fresh faces joining the elite players this time around.
Among the 30 players called up for the camp which got underway yesterday, are eight uncapped players including teenagers Zaida James of St. Lucia and Jannillea Glasgow of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
James is a left-arm medium pacer while Glasgow is a right-arm medium pacer.
The other uncapped players are Rashada Williams, Caneisha Isaac, Shanika Bruce, Mangru and Rachel Vincent.
Jamaican batter, Williams has also caught the attention of the head coach. She has been part of the training with the ladies but has never been to the camp.
“She’s a young woman batsman so we’re looking at that,” said Walsh.
“Obviously I understand she keeps wicket as well so we know. I’ve been in touch with her and she’s very keen and excited to come to camp and she was one the players we identified last year to put in the programme with the elite players who we picked for the camp. So, even though she didn’t come to the camp, she was still in training with them and then this year we added her back to the list and she’s into the setup and really and truly from the reports that we have got that she’s an excited player to have a look at so I’m looking forward to seeing how she copes with the camp. So I’m very excited about that,” Walsh explained.
He added, “Then there’s two youngsters, Glasgow and James from St. Lucia and St. Vincent and that it’s the best time to have a look at them. They’re 17 I think, between, 16-17, their parents gave them the blessing to come into the camp so we ensure that they enjoy the camp but it has given me a chance of seeing what they have. There might not be the immediate fix but at least we can plan. If they’re good enough to play, then obviously that will be even better for me but at least we can start playing with them from now and put the programmes in place to improve our game.”
FULL SQUAD SELECTED: Aaliyah Alleyne, Reniece Boyce, Shanika Bruce, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Jannillea Glasgow, Sheneta Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Caneisha Isaac, Zaida James, Japhina Joseph, Qiana Joseph, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Mandy Mangru, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Shakera Selman, Steffi Soogrim, Stafanie Taylor, Rachel Vincent, Rashada Williams
