(CMC) – Cricket West Indies has chosen 29 players to train at the High Performance Camp at Coolidge Cricket Ground, in preparation for next year’s ICC Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.
The group includes the duo of left-handed batter Jordan Johnson and right-arm fast bowler Isai Thorne, both of whom featured at last year’s Under-19 World Cup staged in the Caribbean.
Johnson scored 69 runs from four appearances while Thorne grabbed four wickets from four outings.
A third player, top-order batsman Justin Jaggessar, played two Youth One-Day Internationals on the tour of England two years ago, but failed to turn out in the World Cup.
The camp, which got underway Tuesday and runs until March 9, will focus on “targeted coaching sessions and physical preparations” and will also include three 50-over practice matches.
“This camp is all about the importance of the development of West Indies cricket and this is laying the foundation for the future of our game in the region,” said chief youth men’s selector, Robert Haynes.
“This is not just about playing in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup next year, but also about developing the overall player on and off the field.
“We have some very talented players in this group and we know they will do very well. We still have the age-group tournaments later this year where more players can put in performances and earn selection.”
The selection of players was based on their performances during age group tournaments last year and further opportunity will be provided to impress selectors during CWI’s age group tournament later this year.
Meanwhile Rohan Nurse, the former assistant coach of the West Indies Under 19s, has been appointed as the new Talent Pathway Manager by CWI, and has been tasked with designing and spearheading the players preparation for the Under-19 World Cup. CWI said Nurse will “lead the day-to-day management of the development squad as part of his wider high-performance role managing our best young talent across the region.”
He will be joined during the camp by assistant coaches Nikita Miller and Rohan Clarke; specialist wicketkeeping coach, Nick Wilton; high performance manager, Graeme West; coach development manager, Chris Brabazon along with tSteve Liburd, the West Indies Women’s Under- 19 head coach.
SQUAD – Jacen Agard, Jewel Andrew, Brian Barnes, Solomon Bascombe, Golcharan Chulai, Mavindra Dindyal, Joshua Dorne, Tarrique Edward, Reon Edwards, Justin Jaggessar, Deshawn James, Orlando James, Jordan Johnson, Devonie Joseph, Jaden Lorde, Micah McKenzie, Joshua Morris, Stephan Pascal, Jatario Prescod, Andrew Rambaran, Rampertab Ramnauth, Tamarie Redwood, Nathan Sealy, Isai Thorne, Devin Tyson, Yanique Watley, Steven Wedderburn, Adrian Weir, Trevaun Williams.