West Indies U-19s set for England

The West Indies Under-19 squad embarks on a new phase of their World Cup journey as they prepare to face England in a seven-match Youth One Day International series beginning this Sunday in Grenada.

Cricket West Indies shared in a media release that the series serves as an important milestone in assessing the team’s readiness for the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup scheduled for early next year. Head coach Rohan Nurse expressed his anticipation for continued development within the squad, eager to see how his young players perform against strong international opponents.

Following a competitive 4-3 series victory over Sri Lanka in Antigua just over two months ago, the Caribbean hopefuls now look to build on that momentum.

Nurse believes the insights gained from that series will prove valuable as the team refines their skills and strategies.

CWI reported that the squad has undergone some adjustments since their last outing against Sri Lanka, with three players making a return or earning spots based on recent performances. DeShawn James rejoins the team after recovering from injury, while Kunal Tilokani and Tanez Francis earned their places through standout performances at the regional Under-17 tournament.

Meanwhile, players such as Afraz Ali Buhdoo, Micah Greenidge, and Pajay Nelson will sit out this series. However, alongside Jewel Andrew and Micah McKenzie, they remain part of the broader player pool from which the final World Cup squad will be selected in the coming months.

Reflecting on the team’s recent efforts, Nurse highlighted the resilience and fighting spirit displayed during the last series.

“We were really impressed with the resilience shown by the players in the last series, especially since it was the first time they had been together as a team,” he said.“Those are elements that can’t necessarily be coached – they have to be developed within the group, and we’re quite happy with that. We want to build on it going forward.”

While acknowledging the team’s positive attitude, Nurse also pointed out specific areas for growth. He emphasized that maintaining consistency and focus will be vital if the West Indies are to dominate throughout the series.

“One of the main things we’ve emphasized is maintaining intensity in all departments – batting, bowling and especially fielding. We want to create some kind of advantage in that area,”  Nurse explained.“We’ve seen that we can put together very good performances and be competitive at the international Under-19 level. It all starts at the top from a batting viewpoint and being able to convert when we get starts. That’s been a key focus in preparation. From a bowling standpoint, we’ve also worked on clearly defining roles and identifying who best suits which role.”

With the World Cup on the horizon, this series against England is an essential step in developing a cohesive, competitive unit capable of handling the rigors of international cricket.

“This series comes at a really good time for us”, Nurse added.“Now, it’s more about moving toward a performance-driven environment – while still helping the guys understand professionalism, expectations and roles on and off the field.”

– Joshua Dorne
– Shaquan Belle
– Brendan Boodoo
– Tyriek Bryan
– Zachary Carter
– Earsinho Fontaine
– Tanez Francis
– R’Jai Gittens
– DeShawn James
– Vitel Lawes
– Matthew Miller
– Isra-el Morton
– Jakeem Pollard
– Aadian Racha
– Kunal Tilokani
– Johnathan Van Lange

Team Management

– Head Coach: Rohan Nurse
– Assistant Coaches: Jerome Taylor, Nikita Miller
– Physiotherapist: Kwayne Dalrymple
– Strength & Conditioning Coach: Shayne Cooper
– Team Analyst: Keshava Ramphal
– Manager: Clint St Hill

Match Schedule

– 1st Youth ODI – November 16
– 2nd Youth ODI – November 19
– 3rd Youth ODI – November 21
– 4th Youth ODI – November 24
– 5th Youth ODI – November 26
– 6th Youth ODI – November 29
– 7th Youth ODI – December 1