Makeshift U-15 cricket squad departs tomorrow
After an embarrassing blunder put the country’s participation at this season’s regional Under-15 tournament in serious doubt, the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) moved quickly and have pieced together a make-shift squad that will depart for St Kitts tomorrow.
According to information provided by the JCA’s Cricket Operations arm, players were chosen from the Kingston Wharves Under-15 competition to replace the 12 youngsters who were ruled out based on changes made by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in May.
The JCA had overlooked an age limit amendment in the competition’s 2012 Playing Conditions guidelines that left most in the original 14-member squad ineligible.
The oversight was discovered less than a week before the squad’s departure and JCA officials were forced to find a solution to cushion the disaster.
On Wednesday, some parents fumed that the youngsters’ dreams had been crushed, while local cricket boss Lyndel Wright was left to apologise and concede that the “error was made by the JCA”.
Meanwhile, the 12 newly selected players joined the two originally eligible members — Michael Frew and Javelle Glenn — in a training session at Kensington Park yesterday.
Head coach Terrence Corke, who guided the Under-15s to the WICB title last year, held an optimistic view despite the obvious struggle to match the many new faces with a name.
“It’s a challenge, yes, but we (the technical staff) can’t look at it that way. We have to do our best to get them ready,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
Corke added that he has seen positive signs and with the assistance of senior team coach Junior Bennett, the limited preparation of the team will be carefully managed.
Squad — Michael Frew (capt), Javelle Glenn, Simon Lee, Orande Pearson, Casius Minto, Orlando Rowe, Romario B Brown, Romario W Brown, David Curtis, Damali Taylor, Devaraine Rowe, Andrew Thompson, Rayon Nelson and Evan Jones.