Windwards Need a Middle Order Bat
Fri, Jan 10, '03
The Windward Islands tournament opens in St Vincent on Friday with selectors hoping that the tournament will unearth a couple of young reliable middle order batsmen who can perform at the regional first class level.
The Windward Islands, with a traditionally strong bowling line-up, has been strengthened in recent years with the emergence of two reliable openers in hotshot prospects Devon Smith and Rommel Currency.
However, what they are still to find to make them a genuinely competitive regional first class side is a solid middle order.
Former West Indies wicket-keeper Junior Murray has been the lone standout, and though John Eugene has shown brilliance from time to time, his consistency is an increasing worry. "We are looking for the emergence of some batsmen, preferably younger batsmen, that has been our continuous problem in Windwards cricket," Windward Islands Cricket Board President Lennox John said.
The Windward Islands are looking desperately for a number three player to bat between Murray and the openers, and a number five player to take charge ahead of their useful lower middle order all-rounders. A lot of attention will be on teenage Dominican Liam Sebastien, the son of former opener Lockhart.
Young Sebastien who showed a lot of promise in his first senior Windward Islands tournament last year with a stylish half century and scored a ton for the Windwards Under 19 team in the last West Indies youth tournament.
He is even being groomed as a team leader, given the vice captaincy of the Dominica team this year ahead of much more season players.
Another player who is considered one of the brightest prospects in the Windwards is the dashing 15-year old Grenadian Andre Fletcher. But Fletcher might only feature in the latter part of the tournament as a down-the-order replacement for opener Devon Smith who team officials say will play in Grenada's opening game against Dominica at Sion Hill before flying to Antigua to join the West Indies World Cup preparation squad.
Smith leaves St Vincent on Monday morning after featuring in the three-day which ends Sunday. St Vincent, the defending champions play St Lucia in the another opening game. The Windward Islands tournament not only decides the sub-regional championship but serves as the trials for the selection of the team for the West Indies first class tournament.
Other than the two middle order places the team is expected to have a settled look about it. Smith and Currency are expected to return to the top of the order, with Murray the corner-stone of the middle order.
Cameron Cuffy who is turning up for St. Vincent, compatriots Deighton Butler and Kenroy Peters and the promising Dominican pacer Fernix Thomas are the expected fast bowlers.
Spin is expected from Orlanzo Jackson, St Vincent's cricketer of the year who is also a useful lower middle order batsman, and Shane Shillingford. But there is a debate on whether Rawl Lewis would be returned as captain.
A useful leader, he is also a consistent lower order middle order batsman. But he was first primarily selected for his leg spinners, which have fallen away badly in the last two seasons. There is no doubt that he cannot make the team again as a bowler. St Lucia's Darren Sammy, a West Indies youth player with all-round potential would also have to be considered in the mix -- unless he is one of the players considered for West Indies B squad.
* EDITOR'S NOTE: Hamlet Marks runs the CaribUpdate news site.