Bridgetown, Barbados – The West Indies Under 19 team departed from Barbados on Wednesday evening for India, where they will take on India Under 19, Sri Lanka Under 19 and Australia Under 19 in a 50 Over series. The matches will be played from September 27 to October 9 and will be used as preparations for the International Cricket Council’s Under 19 World Cup, to be played in Australia in August 2012.
Kavem Hodge from Dominica is part of the team.
Head Coach Roddy Estwick said he will look to give all the members of the squad an opportunity to play and get valuable experience in the sub-continent. He added that the biggest challenge will be to adapt to the foreign conditions.
West Indies Under 19 have played well this year. They beat Australia Under 19 in both the three-day and one-day formats in Dubai in April, and trounced the United States Under 19s in the 50 Over matches in July.
“The ICC Under 19 World Cup is less than a year way and we are building towards that tournament. We have been playing some excellent cricket and we will look to build on that. Even though the long-term focus is on the World Cup next year, we will be looking to do well in this tournament and continue the good work we have done this year,” Estwick said.
“We will face three very good teams in this tournament, so this is the perfect opportunity to test ourselves. We played well against the Australians in Dubai earlier this year and also did some good things in the US so we will look to continue the good work and maintain the standards.”
Estwick added: “We had a one week camp in Barbados last month after the players came out of the Under 19 Tournament and everyone is ready for this trip. We have been stressing on fitness and the general level of fitness among the players in the group is good. We are working with everyone to reach peak levels of fitness required to be a top-flight international cricketer.
“The major challenge I foresee will be the conditions, especially the pitches. We have to adjust quickly when we get to India and will need to adjust to the pitches as well. The players would not have experienced Indian conditions before so we have to make sure we prepare well and stay focussed.”
FULL SQUAD:
Kraigg Brathwaite (Barbados): right-hand bat/right-arm off-spinner (CAPTAIN)
Anthony Alleyne (Barbados): left-hand bat/right-arm off-spinner
Sunil Ambris (St Vincent): right-hand bat/wicket-keeper
Ronsford Beaton (Guyana): right-hand bat/right-arm fast bowler
John Campbell (Jamaica): left-hand bat/right-arm off-spinner
Derone Davis (Trinidad and Tobago): left-hand bat/left-arm spinner
Justin Greaves (Barbados): right-hand bat/right-arm fast-medium
Kavem Hodge (Dominca): right-hand bat/left-arm spinner
Akeal Hosein (Trinidad and Tobago): left-hand bat/left-arm spinner
Jerome Jones (Barbados): left-hand bat/left-arm fast bowler
Steven Katwaroo (Trinidad and Tobago): right-hand bat/wicket-keeper
Amir Khan (Guyana): right-hand bat/right-arm leg-spinner
Emmanuel Lett (Trinidad and Tobago): right-hand bat/right-arm off-spinner
Kyle Mayers (Barbados): left-hand bat/right-arm medium-fast
Donovan Nelson (Jamaica): left-hand bat/right-arm leg-spinner
Team Management Unit: Roddy Estwick (Head Coach), Courtney Walsh (Team Manager), Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach), Janel Springer (Physiotherapist), Neval Grazette (Trainer)
FULL TOUR SCHEDULE
September 27
West Indies v Sri Lanka at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
India v Australia at Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium, Visakhapatnam
September 29
India v Sri Lanka at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
West Indies v Australia at Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium, Visakhapatnam
October 1
Sri Lanka v Australia at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
India v West Indies at Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium, Visakhapatnam
October 3
West Indies v Sri Lanka at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
India v Australia at Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium, Visakhapatnam
October 5
India v Sri Lanka at Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium, Visakhapatnam
West Indies v Australia at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
October 7
Sri Lanka v Australia at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
India v West Indies at Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium, Visakhapatnam
October 9
3rd place team v 4th place team at Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium, Visakhapatnam
FINAL: 1st place team v 2nd place team at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
don’t know this young man but i just want to say to him stay focus and make your self proud.,and doing so you will bring pride to your family and our blessed dominica ,.. so hold strong we all wish you well
…. dominicians we must suport our young people when they are positive to much politics
SHANE SHILLINGFORD IS BACK,BY NEXT YEAR DOMINICA WILL HAVE TWO TEST PLAYERS ON THE WEST INDIES TEAM.
kavem just keep a levelled head and contd working hard..
What happen to players from St vincent, Antigua and Grenada. West indies cricket will never get to the next level. I cannot believe those mention islands could not produce better players than trini and Barbados… those 2 islands have 9 players combined. When is this going to end?
Kavem, you seem to be focused and worked hard during the days you had on island before going on tour. Stay foucused and play hard, dont take unnecessary risks while you bat, bat as long as you can and bowl and feel with the intensity that is necessary and you’ll be ok. Cricket is a team sport pur a self sport too…… DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE