Jan. 27, 2021, 8:45 p.m.

Captains and coaches talk up their chances of taking title

ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Cricket West Indies (CWI) today confirmed a host of top West Indian players who will participate in February’s CG Insurance Super50 Cup, as all six teams finalised their 15-member squads. The six major cricketing rivals will go head-to-head in 19 action-packed 50-over matches starting from Sunday, February 7. The tournament will come to an exciting climax when the new champions are crowned on Saturday, February 27.

Fans can watch the matches live from the Coolidge Cricket Ground on ESPN Caribbean and matches live from the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on CWI’s website and YouTube channel.

West Indies white ball skipper, Kieran Pollard will be at the helm of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, while Test captain Jason Holder will be in charge of the Barbados Pride. The cream of West Indies cricket and a host of exciting young talent will be taking part including players such as Roston Chase (Barbados Pride), Shimron Hetmyer (Guyana Jaguars), Sheldon Cottrell (Jamaica Scorpions), Hayden Walsh Jr (Leeward Islands Hurricanes), Nicholas Pooran (Trinidad and Tobago Red Force) and Andre Fletcher (Windward Islands Volcanoes).

Whilst COVID-19 related constraints mean that 2019-2020 Champions, the West Indies Emerging Players, are unable to defend their title, eight (8) of those talented young winners from the 2019 tournament have found spots in the competing franchise teams, including Keon Harding, Dominic Drakes and Justin Greaves (Barbados Pride), Kevin Sinclair (Guyana Jaguars), Ashmead Nedd (Leeward Islands Hurricanes), Jayden Seales (Trinidad and Tobago Red Force) as well as, Kimani Melius and Roland Cato (Windward Islands Volcanoes).

The tournament is expected to bowl off to an exciting start when home team Leewards Islands Hurricanes host arch rivals Windward Islands Volcanoes at the picturesque Coolidge Cricket Ground on Sunday, February 7.

FROM INSIDE THE CAMPS

Kieron Pollard (Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Captain):

I believe we have a very good team in terms of youth and experience and we can go that step further and make it to the finals. In the last few years we missed out, reaching the semi-finals and being beaten, once by CCC and once by Leewards. Hopefully we have all the energy and all the gas in the tank and go all the way. This promises to be a really good tournament and I know players will be aiming to impress and improve their careers.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force: Kieron Pollard (Captain), Darren Bravo (Vice-Captain), Akeal Hosein, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Sunil Narine, Kjorn Ottley, Khary Pierre, Nicholas Pooran, Anderson Phillip, Dinesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Jayden Seales, Lendl Simmons; David Furlonge (Head Coach)

Jason Holder (Barbados Pride Captain):

We are really looking forward to the first tournament of the year. It’s great to be back and there is a lot of excitement in our camp. We are focused on winning. It will be important to hold our nerve under pressure and execute under pressure. The team that is most consistent always wins, and we have to look at being consistent and win for our country and our fans.

Barbados Pride: Jason Holder (Captain), Joshua Bishop, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Zachary McCaskie, Ashley Nurse, Tevyn Walcott; Dexter Toppin (Head Coach)​

Esuan Crandon (Guyana Jaguars Head Coach):

We have a very well-balanced squad. We are boosted with the presence of Shimron Hetmyer and Romario Shepherd, two players with international experience and who can be match-winners for us. Our training has been going quite well and we know we have to play fearless cricket and take it one game at a time. We will look to put it all together…we are very confident.

Guyana Jaguars; Leon Johnson (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer (Vice-Captain), Christopher Barnwell, Anthony Bramble, Asad Fudadin, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Tevin Imlach, Keon Joseph, Ramaal Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Akshaya Persaud, Kemol Savory, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair, Nial Smith; Esuan Crandon (Head Coach)

Andre Coley (Jamaica Scorpions Head Coach):

It is very important that we start well. It is a shorter tournament than last time so we must hit the ground running and build from there. We have put together a strong squad which we believe can be a championship-winning team. Everybody is really ready to go and eager to play. It is great to be back playing regional cricket for the first time since last year, so this CG Insurance Super50 Cup is a big deal for us.

Jamaica Scorpions: Rovman Powell (Captain), Derval Green (Vice-Captain), Fabian Allen, Dennis Bulli, Sheldon Cottrell, Javel Glenn, Brandon King, Andre McCarthy, Jamie Merchant, Romaine Morris, Paul Palmer, Jeavor Royal, Odean Smith, Aldaine Thomas, Oshane Thomas; Andre Coley (Head Coach)

Andrew Richardson (Windwards Volcanoes Head Coach):

Our preparations have been good. The players have put in a lot of work and we are in a much better physical and mental state … they are definitely looking a lot better than six months ago .. we are in fine spirits. Our batting in looking good and one important factor is that we have to make use of the power play overs when we are at the crease and not have to play catch-up cricket. We are looking to win … we always to play to win.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes: Devon Thomas (captain), Montcin Hodge (Vice Captain), Colin Archibald, Sheeno Berridge, Quinton Boatswain, Keacy Carty, Nino Henry, Amir Jangoo, Nitish Kumar, Jeremiah Louis, Ashmead Need, Kieran Powell, Ross Powell, Hayden Walsh Jr, Terrance Warde; Stuart Williams (Head Coach)

Stuart Williams (Leewards Hurricanes Head Coach):

The players look really sharp and energized in training. They are enthusiastic and eager to go one better than last tournament, where we reached the final but lost to the Emerging Players. This year, we are preparing well … we are leaving no stone unturned, and with local knowledge that should work in out favour as well. We have some really bright talents and want to see them grow as a team and as individuals.

Windward Islands Volcanoes: Sunil Ambris (Captain), Andre Fletcher (Vice-Captain), Alick Athanaze, Roland Cato, Keron Cottoy, Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Ryan John, Ray Jordan, Desron Maloney, Obed McCoy, Preston McSween, Kimani Melius, Emmanuel Stewart, Kevin Stoute; Andrew Richardson (Head Coach)

-CWI