By Melton Williams, Staff Reporter
Robinson in action. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
ROUND ONE of the 2002 West Indies Under-19 regional cricket tournament bowls off this morning at 10:30, the three-day encounter featuring eight teams divided into two groups.
Hosts Jamaica and the Windward Islands square-off at Port Esquivel in their opening preliminary game. Looking at the teams and their recent performances, it should be a fascinating contest from start to finish and it could be one dominated by bowlers.
Yesterday, at Melbourne Oval the Jamaicans went through their final three-hour tune-up while at the Police Sports Club, the Windwards did likewise.
On paper, the odds are slightly in Jamaica's favour even though the Windwards team has been compared to the 2000 side which took championship honours.
One reason why the odds favour the home team is because in offspinner Wayne Simpson they parade a real class bowler. Also, neither teams batting appears strong and Jamaica have a good four-pronged attack. However, indications are that Jamaica will play the offspinner, who had a good season last year and start with a three-man pace attack.
Jamaica boast a very good bowling attack, but Windwards believe they have a good all-round team to counter.
So good are the Jamaican fast bowlers that it will be interesting to see which one will have to make way for the offspinner. One thing for sure is that the experienced Jowayne Robinson and former West Indies Under-15 left-arm pacer Krishmar Santokie will be named in the team, leaving Sherman Gordon and debutant Jerome Taylor to fight for the other place.
Jamaica coach Junior Bennett described his team as "a good all-round one" adding that "we have good fast bowlers who we think can do extremely well in the tournament."
Irvin Warrican, coach of Windwards, believes his team is good although he noted that "Guyana and Jamaica are presently dominating regional cricket".
Warrican further said that "without a big name a lot of people feel that we have a team strong as the 2000 team".
The top two teams from each of the zones will advance to the semi-finals which will be played between August 13-15 and Warrican feels his outfit will make the penultimate round.
"Our guys are playing good as a unit and based on the ability and what I have seen in the Windwards tournament, I think the team will be very competitive," concluded Warrican.
TODAY'S GAMES
Zone A
Jamaica vs Windward Islands at Port Esquivel, Guyana vs Canada at UWI.
Zone B
Barbados vs Leewards at Kensington Oval, Trinidad and Tobago vs Rest Of Americas at Nelson Oval.
