Barbados to face Leewards at Kensington
After weeks of discussion regarding the negative effects of a shortened season on four-day cricket, many-time champions Barbados will face off against last season’s third-placed finishers the Leeward Islands at the Kensington Park in the first round of matches of the West Indies Cricket Board 2010 cricket series.
Leewards captain Steve Liburd told the Observer after Wednesday’s competition launch at the Knutsford Court Hotel that winning the first game against Barbados is a crucial step towards finishing in the top two this season.
“(This year) we stand a good chance. Last season we came third and we want to improve on that and perhaps come in the top two. It’s a shortened season so you need momentum. You can get momentum from winning your first game so once we can win we have to keep on going. You have to be on the ball from the first game,” he said.
Both teams have balance in their pace and spin departments and also possess batsmen with experience at regional level. For Leewards, there is West Indies fastbowler Gavin Tonge as well as seamer Lionel Baker, who has played four Tests. Out-of-favour West Indies offspinner Omari Banks should spearhead the spin department.
Leewards batting should be led by Runako Morton, Liburd, vice-captain Tonito Willett, and the experienced all-rounder Wilden Cornwall. Liburd has identified wicketkeeper batsman Devon Thomas and Kieran Powell as talented stroke-makers.
Aside from Roach, Barbados also has discarded West Indies pacers Tino Best and Pedro Collins. Captain Ryan Hinds and Nikoli Charles should bear the spin burden. Hinds, Dale Richards and wicketkeeper batsman Patrick Browne will shoulder batting responsibilities, while coach Emerson Trotman has singled out Kyle Hope and Shamarh Brooks as batsmen to look out for.
When the Observer caught up with Leewards team coach John Archibald during practise at the Melbourne Oval yesterday, he was hopeful that his bowlers remain consistent and that his batsmen can match the performance of his bowlers from last season.
“We have to hope that our bowlers can be as consistent as they were last year. Our batsmen need to capitalise on starts and convert some of those 50s into 100s. Basically we are going into the match with the intention of improving on some of the performances from last year,” he said.
During training at Kensington Park, Barbados, Trotman, remained tight-lipped on a possible plan of attack against his opponents but instead pointed out that ultimately his aim was to come out on top. “The plan is to roll them over twice and win the game. I don’t really focus on the opponents at the moment. There are no weak sides in the competition, really,” he said.
TEAMS:
Leewards — Steve Liburd (capt), Tonito Willett, Kieran Powell, Moncin Hodge, Runako Morton, Codville Rogers, Wilden Cornwall, Devon Thomas, Omari Banks, Anthony Martin, Justin Athanaze, Gavin Tonge, Lionel Baker.
Barbados — Ryan Hinds (capt), Tino Best, Rashidi Boucher, Shamarh Brooks, Patrick Browne, Nikolai Charles, Pedro Collins, Kirk Edwards, Jason Hinds, Kyle Hope, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Kevin Stoute.