Bernard calls for consistency
BY SANJAY MYERS
Observer staff reporter
myerss@jamaicaobserver.com
JAMAICA’s captain David Bernard is looking for a strong showing from his team as the country seeks to reclaim the regional 50-overs title previously won two seasons ago.
The 32-year-old Bernard and the rest of the 14-member squad left the island yesterday evening for Trinidad & Tobago for the NAGICO Super50 cricket tournament.
Pitted against the champions Windward Islands in the Zone A tournament opener tomorrow at the Queen’s Park Oval, Bernard, who was only recently named skipper after Christopher Gayle failed to recover in time from a hamstring injury, is calling for consistency.
“We expect to have a good tournament. We just have to take it a game at a time with the aim of winning all the games that we play.
“Everybody has aspirations of coming out of the group, so they will all be coming hard. We have to ensure we get the better of each opposition and not take anybody for granted. We have to play with the same intensity throughout each and every game,” he told the Jamaica Observer moments before the team checked in at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.
The Jamaicans have an outstanding record in regional four-day cricket, winning eight titles since the 1999-2000 season, including five straight between 2007-08 and 2011-12.
In contrast, Jamaica
have only triumphed three times in the 50-over f
ormat since 1999-2000. The most recent win was in
2011-12. Last season, Jamaica were eliminated
by the Windwards in the semi-finals.
During that time, many critics have identified myriad reasons, including limited preparation, in the shorter format and lack of team unity, as deciding factors.
The all-rounder, who has played three Test matches for the West Indies, said proper execution and unity will be crucial to the team’s success this time around.
“We had our preparation and that went fairly well; and it’s now about doing what we have to do to get victories. We have to play well as a team and get the best results,” Bernard said.