Coach: We never had a fully fit Under-19 team at W/Cup

WEST INDIES Under-19 cricket coach Clyde Butts has described the team’s performance at the recent ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh as “more of a team effort than an individual effort.” Guyanese Butts made this comment at the Piarco International Airport, following the team’s return home on Tuesday. The Windies Under-19s were beaten by Pakistan by 25 runs in the final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka last Friday. “Certainly, when one looked at the way they played, you could see they got stronger and stronger as the tournament went on,” added Butts, the former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner. With regards to the team’s display in the final, Butts remarked: “It was only the second time that they played under lights and it was the World Cup final as well. Of course there will be some nerves but I think they handled it capably.”

But he admitted that the four run-outs during the team’s innings proved vital in the end. “There were some bad calling (by the WI), and some good fielding from the opposition,” he said. Looking back on the competition, he noted: “Most of the time we didn’t have full fitness within the team. “When Ravi (Rampaul) arrived (from senior team duties in South Africa), he got sick immediately. Most of the guys were in and out but I think they adapted well especially in terms of the conditions and the food. The pitches were conducive to our type of play.” The soft-spoken Butts stressed that the WI’s performance came as a surprise to most of the other teams, who expected the squad to be eliminated in the round-robin phase. Another team official who spoke about the conditions in the Asian island was manager Roland Sampath.

“When the guys reached there, it was like a culture shock. It was tough going and it was a learning experience,” he added, “but they now know what it’s like to play on the international circuit,” the former Trinidad and Tobago player said. Team captain Dinesh Ramdin, commenting on the team’s performance, noted: “They did well, off and on the field. They played as a unit and they did the Caribbean proud.” The 18-year-old wicket-keeper revealed that he will use the tournament as a stepping stone to advance to the Windies senior team. “A lot of guys on the team have the talent to do well,” said Ramdin.