Three Anguillians In Leewards Squad Of 13

The Leeward Islands selectors have named a “protected” squad of 13 players for the upcoming West Indies four day tournament. None of these players will be available to the West Indies selectors when they select the West Indies “B” team.

This squad of 13 includes Anguillians Alex Adams, Omari Banks and Chaka Hodge. The full selection reads as follows:- Stuart Williams (capt), Alex Adams, Sylvester Joseph, Omari Banks, Chaka Hodge, Tonito Willett, Adam Sanford, Gavin Tongue, Kerry Jeremy, Joel Simmons (w/k), Ian Tittle, Junie Mitchum and Curl Simon.
It is particularly pleasing to note that young 20-year old Chaka Hodge has finally been drafted into the Leewards senior side. Many cricketing officionados throughout the Leewards and the West Indies consider his inclusion to be overdue. This is no more than the youngster deserves and is just reward for his fine performances for the West Indies “B” team in last years tournament and for his impressively mature contributions at the last session of the Shell/West Indies Cricket Academy in St. Georges, Grenada.

Fluent opening bat, Alex Adams, of course, is now something of a fixture in the Leewards team where he has performed regularly as vice-captain and as captain in last years one-day competition. The Leewards will be relying heavily on him for significant run-getting contributions this year, particularly in the absence of prolific upper-order batsman, Runako Morton, who will miss the tournament in 2003 owing to disciplinary measures imposed on him by the West Indies Cricket Board.

Young all-rounder Omari Banks is again included in the squad as expected. It is hard to ignore Omari’s undoubted and very obvious talents, but his performances at the higher level have so far been tepid and inconsistent and he will need to come good this year if he is to cement his position as Leewards off-spinning all-rounder and make it his own. Ironically, the main challenge for this spot in the side could well come from compatriot, Chaka Hodge, who will most certainly go all out to prove that the selectors’ confidence in his abilities is fully justified. Considering the overall balance of the side, it is unlikely that there would be a spot for both these talented youngsters in the final eleven.

The Leewards selectors have again showed their new-found willingness to go for youth in selecting the young Antiguan (where else?!) fast-bowler, Gavin Tongue. Tongue is an excellent prospect, and has performed already at West Indies youth level. If the Leewards are to include three fast men in their final selection, and they usually do, then the youngster will almost certainly get his chance alongside the more experienced Kerry Jeremy and Adam Sanford, who themselves will be out to prove to the West Indies selectors that they are still worthy of consideration at Test Level.

In the absence of Ridley Jacobs who is called to World Cup duty, young Nevisian wicket keeper, Joel Simmons, gets the nod over West Indies youth keeper, Kittitian Gareth Matthew. Simmons has not let the Leewards down in the past and has performed aggressively and well with the bat, though his glove work can get a little untidy at times. It is a positive factor for the Leewards that two young wicketkeepers will be in contention for the spot behind the stumps and eventually filling Ridley Jacobs gloves will be a tough act to follow for both of them.

Sylvester Jospeh, Tonito Willett and Junie Mitchum were predictable choices for the upper batting order and in the absence of Morton, Mitchum should be able to find a regular spot in the side this year. He is too good a player to spend season after season sitting on the bench.

Two Antiguan medium-paced all rounders make up the squad. Ian Tittle, who has done well since grabbing a spot in the Leewards side, will probably get first choice to fill this position, but Curl Simon, who plays consistently well for Antigua would no doubt be an adequate replacement should it become necessary.

The Leewards start their first match of the 2003 tournament right here in Anguilla on 31st January where they will take on last year’s champions Jamaica, who will be without their numerous West Indies players destined for the World Cup in South Africa in February. Interestingly, West Indies fast bowler Franklyn Rose has been brought back into the Jamaica squad. Veteran West Indies off-spinner Nehemiah Perry will also make his return. Young off-spinner all-rounder Gareth Breese has been omitted as he has just undergone knee surgery.

Jamaica is never an easy side to beat, but without the likes of Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds and Marlon Samuels to make hay on the Ronald Webster Park reknowned batting track, the Leewards must fancy their chances to make a charge into their 2003 season by picking up full points.

As this article goes to press, the West Indies Cricket Board does not yet have an official sponsor for their primary four-day tournament, the Trinidad soft-drink company of Busta having pulled out. Evidently negotiations are still underway with Carib beer, but a conclusion to these discussions is not expected until the weekend.

As in 2002, the West Indies “B” team will be participating in the tournament once again. In this regard, all territories were asked to submit names of their suitable players who would not be in their senior four-day squad. Accordingly, the Leewards selection panel has nominated opening bat Shane Jeffers and all-rounder Elsroy Powell, both of St. Kitts along with young paceman Lionel Baker of Montserrat who performed very well in the recently-held Leeward Islands trials.