Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle who was named captain of the Jamaica squad for the 2014 Nagico Super50 tournament was ruled out of the series because of a medical assessment. Gayle led Jamaica to the 50-over title in the 2007-08 season and also two seasons ago. Gayle has played 99 Test matches and 255 One-Day Internationals.
DAVID BERNARD JR. WILL LEAD JAMAICA
The experienced David Bernard will lead Jamaica in the Nagico Super50 regional competition. The 14-member squad comprises: David Bernard Jr. [captain], Nikita miller [vice captain], Kemar Lewis, John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Horace Miller, Andre McCarthy, Tamar Lambert, Andre Russell, Carlton Baugh, Andrew Richardson, Jerome Taylor and Sheldon Cotterell.
Jamaica is in zone “A” with the Windward Islands, Guyana and Ireland. Zone “B” includes Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Combined Colleges and Campuses and the Leeward Islands.
SUPER50 TOURNAMENT MUST GAIN MOMENTUM
West Indies players must play intelligent cricket in order to capture the other ICC One-Day International trophy. They must demonstrate their abilities with quality One-Day cricket in the region and the various coaches officiating over the respective teams must prepare players with the strategy to be successful in the one-day arena.
The West Indies senior team are losing too many wickets before the half way mark of 25 overs. This team or any team will come under severe pressure if they lose early vital wickets.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE
The One-Day series with New Zealand and West Indies have been going New Zealand’s way not only because of the hits made by New Zealand but because its players are excellent with their ground fielding and also have home court advantage. The New Zealanders are taking early wickets including India’s openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan who are vital to that team. The number four Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane is also getting out early too.
Despite a stable and strong middle order batting, when the top players fail to score sufficient runs while chasing huge totals it creates a situation which puts additional pressure on the team. One of the setbacks facing the West Indies is the lack of a specialist number three batsman for Test and One-Day International cricket. The One-Day International format will continue to pose huge problems for the West Indies if modifications are not made.
ADRIAN BARATH WILL STAKE HIS CLAIM
Trinidad and Tobago’s opening batsman Adrian Barath, who started his Test career for the West Indies with a blistering century against Australia and was sidelined because of a lack of form, will be back in action in the Nagico Super50.
AP Photo/Andres Leighton, File
