9 months ago
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THE JAMAICA U15 cricketers are heading to Antigua to participate in the West Indies Rising Stars Championship, with new coach Milton Thomas hoping his young charges can come up big in the week-long tournament and improve on last year’s last-place finish.
The tournament will feature the six regional teams, who will each play five rounds of 50-over matches at four venues: Coolidge Cricket Ground, Bethesda Cricket Ground, All Saints Cricket Ground, and the Liberta Sports Club.
The Jamaicans managed to win just one game under Phillip Service in the last tournament, and Thomas, who has taken over the reins, says he hopes to win at least three games this year, which would be a good start to the new programme.
“We have a bunch of youngsters who are all under 15, and the experience is limited. But they are eager to go out and enjoy themselves and I just want them to optimise their performance, and I will be fine with that,” said Thomas.
With players like captain Nicoli McKenzie and Demarco Scott moving on, Thomas will be hoping that batsman Tyson Gordon Jnr and captain Demario Hall can show their experience and lead from the front.
“The team comprises of a lot of all-rounders, which is always good in the limited-overs format. We have three good off-spinners, one leg-spinner and six pacers, who can all help themselves with the bat. So I am hoping they click,” added Thomas.
CEO of the Jamaica Cricket Association Courtney Francis was on hand at the send-off ceremony for the players at Sabina Park on Friday, and he urged the youngsters to play hard but play fair.
“I want you all to first have fun, because it is still a game, but you must also play the game with respect and fairness and be proud that you are a selected few that have been chosen to represent our nation.”
The Jamaicans will bow into action on Tuesday against the Leeward Islands at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, before closing out the tournament against defending champions Trinidad and Tobago on April 3 at the same venue.
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