Last season’s bridesmaids, Saint Lucia Kings have boosted their seam attack as they push for the Caribbean Premier League title in the 2021 season.
Head coach, Andy Flower pointed out during a press conference on Monday that the seam department was among the changes made as the tournament heads to the seam-friendly conditions in St. Kitts.
According to Flower, the strength of the attack is headed by veteran, Wahab Riaz, who was roped in since Scott Kuggeleijn could not return to follow up on his exceptional season last year.
Also, Flower reckons that Obed McCoy has developed brilliantly over the last year and will have the support of the experienced, Kesrick Williams.
Additionally, Alzarri Joseph is in the squad along with Keemo Paul who has had success with the Guyana Amazon Warriors for a number of seasons.
Flower reasoned that these bowlers will be complemented by the spin trio of Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall and Usman Qadir of Pakistan. In the batting department, Flower expressed his excitement to work with new captain, Faf du Plessis, since former captain, Darren Sammy, has transitioned to an off-field role.
Kings, though, will be without Australian wicketkeeper/batsman, Matthew Wade but Flower feels his replacement, Tim David, is an adequate inclusion to the side.
“Unfortunately Wade could not get here because of other commitments but we got a good stand in, a young guy named Tim David who is bursting on the franchise cricket scene. I am really excited to see him play, a big strong `Aussie’ who has been playing some cricket in Singapore recently. I saw him in the Pakistan Super League a few a months ago and he looks really exciting and he is coming of some really good form in England for Surrey,” he said
Despite the powerful squad composition, the team is yet to get preparations started as Flower described the current situation as “slightly disjointed at the moment.”
He said, “So obviously it is going to be a very short lead into our first game. We have limited training sessions and no practice games but I am pretty sure we will be ready for that first match.”
The former Zimbabwe captain added, “We got in last night, the contingent that was busy with the Hundred including Darren Sammy who was commentating over there and a number of our key players. We’ve still got the contingent that is busy with the second Test against Pakistan, so we still got a few key men coming across I think later tonight and Samit Patel is playing in the quarter finals of the Vitality Blast in England so he is going to miss the first few games.”
Kings will play their first match against Jamaica Tallawahs on Friday.
Full squad: Faf du Plessis (C), Andre Fletcher, Kesrick Williams, Kadeem Alleyne, Samit Patel, Keemo Paul, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Jeavor Royal, Keron Cottoy, Rahkeem Cornwall, Obed McCoy, Mark Deyal, Roston Chase, Javelle Glen, Alzarri Joseph, Tim David
