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ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Leeward Islands Hurricanes Head Coach Reginald Benjamin said he was concerned that rookie West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has failed to fire since his return to action in the WICB Regional Four-Day Tournament.

Joseph was sidelined for a little over a month following his return home to Antigua from the West Indies Tour of Zimbabwe to tend to his ailing mother.
He however returned to action for the Hurricanes in the last two matches of the four-day tournament before the long break for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday, plus the Regional Super50 Tournament.
But the 20-year-old has not lit a spark, taking just four wickets in the period, much to the disappointment of Benjamin, as the Hurricanes suffered successive losses to the Windward Islands Volcanoes and Jamaica Scorpions, sliding to fifth in the tournament.

“He is not coming and hitting the lines and lengths efficiently, and we didn’t want at the beginning of the season to be depending on (Rahkeem Cornwall) only,” Benjamin told the Antigua Observer newspaper.

“As you can see, Gavin Tonge and other players have stepped up, and with Alzarri coming back, we were sure that we would have an edge to our bowling attack, but thus far it hasn’t paid off.”
Benjamin believes the break will be good for not only Joseph, but the rest of the Hurricanes squad, giving them a chance to regroup before tackling the Super50 tournament and the remainder of the four-day matches.
“After the Guyana game, Hugh Gore, our manager, and I had a meeting and based on our observations, one of the things we came up with is that some players started getting complacent,” said Benjamin.
“So we saw it right at that point, and even in Trinidad and in Windward Islands. We addressed it against Jamaica, but [the break] comes at a very opportune time because we have to go back to the drawing board.

Reported by Antigua Observer and Jamaica Obsever

Seems like most cricket grounds in the region are been prepared to enhance slow bowling and does not offer quicker bowlers any assistance. So why be unhappy when pace bowlers are not performing? Back in the days Sabina Park was a pace bowler's paradise now not much movement, even Kensington not been prepared to help quick bowlers!

In reply to Slipfeeler

Even when the pitch does not offer assistance it pays to bowl proper line and length. He is right about Zhari not bowling proper lines on a consistent basis but he should not be singling him out publicly, probably a private talk would work better. He is only 20 and being asked to lead the bowling attack and that is a big ask for a 20-year-old who is still learning and growing.

What needs to be addressed urgently are our poor performances with the bat in the first innings. Our mediocre performances after 5 matches from our two most experienced batsmen in Hughes and Powell. We do not have any backup bowling Joseph, Tonge, Cornwall then Powell? The problem is we have not had a LICA tournament in 3 years so where do we get backup players from?

Also our fielding needs urgent work especially with the Super 50 coming up. Campbell was dropped on 0, King on 50, Shacoya Thomas on 1 and they all made us pay. Address that Benjie and cut the youth some slack.

In reply to voiceofreason

I absolutely agree with you.

WTF is wrong with Benjamin? Is he looking for fame off Al Jo?

20 years old and with a mother who is ill.

The young lad probably has a lot going on in his head.

In reply to Narper

Benjie is a good coach otherwise but surely not a wise decision publicly single out the youth like that. Especially when he is now coming off a layoff tending to his sick mother that is why major PRO teams have sports psychologists.


Merry Christmas to all! Including my boy Slipfeeler.

In reply to voiceofreason

Merry Christmas to you bro! Awaiting more contentious cricket arguments in 2017!

In reply to voiceofreason

his mother's illness could definitely affect his performance

another idiot trying to get 15 seconds of fame.He should be working with the young man,as per his job.

In reply to Slipfeeler


Alzzari is overrated

Perhaps Benjamin already had that private chat with no effect

More than one way to skin a cat

In reply to imusic

Exactly, I thought what you posted, Benjie's words could work in a positive way.

In reply to silver

you are a very stoopid poster

In reply to Narper

I agree with your analysis of silver

No one affiliated with the LI management should critique players.
They stopped having the Leeward Island competition, to see the performance or development of players.
They need to get back, to inter island 3-day 50 ovrs and 20 ovrs tournaments.

[b]In reply

I do not agree Joseph is overrated, I think he talented and needs time to develop but due a desperate lack of genuine pacers in the region, the young man is been forced into taking the helm of bowling attack and been overworked, added to the fact that he may be emotionally affected by the illness of his mother. Where are the team psychologists?