WI not yet back to glory days

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: former West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Jeff Dujon said there is evidence that West Indies cricket is improving but it may be too premature to conclude that the regional team has returned to the “glory days”.

Dujon, a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) coach, said the recent performances by the West Indies team have rekindled hopes of a full revival. “I like the attitude of the selectors, their initiative in investing in our young players,” he told reporters last Friday. “There has been a measure of success especially with the young players and I would like to see some of them touring South Africa later this year,” said the former Wisden cricketer of 1989. Dujon and Kenny Benjamin, another WICB coach and former fastbowler, began a specialist camp on Thursday for young cricketers in the Windward Islands, in preparation for the West Indies Under-19 Tournament in Guyana next month. However, Benjamin expressed disappointment that only two fastbowlers were available for the start of the training session. “The Windwards have always had a bunch of fastbowlers and I was disappointed that only two were available. “I’m told that the rest (bowlers) are in Barbados participating in the Sir Garfield Sobers Schools’ Cricket Tournament, but there must be a priority. You have to consider your country before school and this is an important aspect of their development,” Benjamin said.

Territorial Development Officer for the Windward Islands, Alfred Bynoe said the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control sought assistance from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Dujon and Benjamin were sent to co-ordinate the programme. “We have also included two players over the age of 19 for special attention in bowling — Troy George of Grenada and Calvert Hooper of St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Bynoe told GrenadaSports. He said that Ronald Rogers, the West Indies fitness trainer, is also expected to begin a two-day Fitness Battery/Injury Prevention Workshop for promising cricketers, coaches and trainers. Following the completion of the specialist camp, the Windwards’ squad will undergo a normal camp before departing for Guyana to participate in Zone B along with Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda.

Squad
Liam Sebastien (capt), Jean Paul, Asa Edwards, Ron Edwards, Craig Emmanuel, Earven Frederick, Miles Bascombe, Marvin Noel, Glenroy Charles, Nelon Pascal, Ronald Ettienne, Lindon James, Luke Browne, Lemron George; Irwin Warrican (coach), and Emmanuel Nanthan (manager).