Darien Powell
FOR BETTER or worse, the regional one-day competition, which gets under way on Tuesday in Guyana, has been tinkered with yet again.
The 2007 version of the KFC Cup will feature the six traditional regional sides, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, the Leewards and the Windwards, and two newcomers - the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the West Indies Under-19s.
While those in the 'pro' camp say the inclusion of the new teams will provide tremendous exposure for some of the region's top young players, those against claim all it is doing is watering down a competition which already has a reasonably weak overall talent pool.
minor miracle
It would be a minor miracle if either UWI or the U-19s win a group game let alone reach the semi-finals in Barbados.
That leaves the Big Six to battle it out again for honours with defending champions Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and grossly underachieving Jamaica looking to have the best talent to clinch the title.
Barbados are a team in flux with plenty of bowling but little batting, while the Leewards and Windwards have smatterings of talent but will need to play better than the sum of their parts to chase the title all the way to the day/night final in Bridgetown on October 28.
Guyana, led by West Indies stalwarts Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, have won three of the past six crowns and will feature prominently again.
Trinidad and Tobago, who will lean heavily on the all-round skills of Dwayne Bravo, have talent up and down their list and a nice blend of youth and experience to boot.
Man for man, Jamaica have as much talent as any side in the competition with five players - captain Chris Gayle, precocious young batman Xavier Marshall, 'keeper Carlton Baugh and pacemen Jerome Taylor and Daren Powell, who have donned the famous maroon cap of the West Indies.
Anything less than a semi-final appearance by Gayle's gang will be seen as another failure.
Stand-in West Indies captain Chris Gayle holds aloft the trophy after the team's series win against England was secured during the third and final one-day international at Trent Bridge in July. Gayle now takes the reins of an underperforming Jamaica team in the KFC Cup.- AP Oh, if only games were played on paper.
- Tym Glaser
Schedule In Guyana
Oct. 16: Zone B - Guyana v Windward Islands at Albion, Trinidad & Tobago vs UWI at Providence.
Oct. 17: Zone A - Barbados v West Indies U19s at Blairmont SC, JAMAICA vs Leeward Islands at Providence Stadium.
Oct. 18: Zone B - Guyana vs UWI at Providence, Trinidad & Tobago vs Windward Islands at Bourda.
Oct. 19: Zone A - Barbados vs Leeward Islands at Bourda, JAMAICA vs West Indies U19s at Enmore.
Oct. 20: Zone B - Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago at Providence, UWI vs Windward Islands at Blairmont SC.
Oct. 21: Zone A - Barbados vs JAMAICA at Providence, Leeward Islands vs West Indies U19s at Enmore.
In Barbados
Oct . 25: First semi-final at Three Ws Oval, Bridgetown.
Oct. 26: Second semi-final at Three Ws Oval, Bridgetown.
Oct. 28: Final at Three Ws Oval, Bridgetown.
BARBADOS
Fidel Edwards
Championships: Five
Squad: Corey Collymore (capt.), Dwayne Smith, Sulieman Benn, Derek Bishop, Wayne Blackman, Patrick Browne, Jonathan Carter, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Carlo Morris, Martin Nurse, Dale Richards, Kenroy Williams.
BARBADOS, LIKE Jamaica, have had a pretty lean time in the regional one-day competition - winning only twice in the past 20 years - and that trend seems unlikely to change this time around.
The strength of the side is the medium-quick triumvirate of new skipper Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards and Pedro Collins. Lanky left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn provides an economical slow-bowling option but the attack will have to restrict opponents to very modest scores as the batting looks extremely brittle.
Only one member of the top order, Dwayne Smith, has Test experience. Sacked former skipper, Ryan Hinds, while inconsistent, will be sorely missed.
Player to watch: Fidel Edwards
- T.G.
GUYANA
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Championships: Nine
Squad: Ramnaresh Sarwan (capt.), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Darwin Christian, Esuan Crandon, Royston Crandon, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Assad Fudadin, Reon King, Neil McGarrell, Zaheer Mohammed, Mahendra Nagamootoo.
THE PRELIMINARY round hosts look a safe bet to reach the semi-finals with their experienced and talented squad.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul and skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan anchor a strong batting line-up which also includes Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Travis Dowlin, Narsingh Deonarine and promising 'keeper Darwin Christian.
Chanderpaul was in impeccable form during the West Indies summer tour of England and will be a major stumbling block for all opponents.
Veteran paceman Reon King leads a versatile attack of quicks (Esuan Crandon and part-timer Fudadin) and spinners galore (Neil McGarrell, Deonarine, Mahendra Nagamootoo and youngster Zaheer Mohammed).
Guyana are one of the pre-tournament favourites as they seek to claim one-day title No. 10.
Player to watch: Shivnarine Chanderpaul
- T.G.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Dwayne Bravo
Championships: Eight
Squad: Daren Ganga (capt.), Sherwin Ganga, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Bravo, Mervyn Dillon, Rayad Emrit, Amit Jaggernauth, Ravi Rampaul, Magnum Nanan, Mario Belcon, Kieron Pollard, Jason Mohammed, Lendl Simmons, Samuel Badree.
THE TRINIDAD and Tobago squad looks deep and strong; which is highlighted by the fact that the selectors could afford to drop talented all-rounder Richard Kelly.
Daren Ganga, back in his element of domestic cricket, skippers a well-balanced and experienced side.
Ganga, Lendl Simmons, young star Kieron Pollard, Sherwin Ganga, Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin should compile some more than useful totals.
Chinaman bowler Dave Mohammed is out through injury but the attack still has plenty of variety through quicks Ravi Rampaul, Rayad Emrit and old stager Mervyn Dillon, medium pacers Bravo and Pollard and spin options Samuel Badree and Amit Jaggernauth.
It would be no surprise to see the defending champions repeat.
Player to watch: Dwayne Bravo
- T.G.
WEST INDIES U-19s
Kieron Powell and Runakko Morton
Championships: None
Squad: Steven Jacobs, Shamarh Brooks, Adrian Barath, Daren Bravo, Veerasammy Permaul, Devon Thomas, Chesney Hughes, Kelbert Walters, Kieron Powell, Andre Creary, Rajendra Chandrika, Nkruma Bonnor, Jason Dawes, Dawnley Grant, Linden Lawrence, Rashidi Boucher, Delorn Johnson, Horace Miller, Shacoya Thomas, Kyle Corbin.
DESPITE THE fact that the West Indies Under-19 team will just be playing for the experience, a couple upset wins could be on the cards.
Jamaica's Horace Miller, who plundered a whirlwind 133 which led his team to a successful chase of Guyana's 225 in just 40.5 overs for an eight wicket win in the Under-19 final, should feature prominently.
Vishal Singh, who scored 79 for Guyana in the final, Daren Bravo, brother of Dwayne, and Kieron Powell will also want to prove their worth against senior opposition.
Player to watch: Kieron Powell
- Anthony Foster
LEEWARD ISLANDS
Championships: Six
Squad: Runako Morton (captain), Omari Banks, Tonito Willett, Javia Liburd, Joel Simmonds, Shane Jeffers, Steve Liburd, Codville Rogers, Chaka Hodge, Lionel Baker, Justin Athanaze, Curtis Roberts, Gavin Tonge, Romain Doodnauth.
DESPITE THE fact that they only have two players, captain Runako Morton, who is expected to lead the batting, and off-spinning all-rounder Omari Banks, with international experience, the Leeward Islands still have it in them to surprise.
Batsmen Tonito Willett and Shane Jeffers, wicketkeeper/batsman Joel Simmonds and former West Indies Under-19 off-spinner Chaka Hodge are experienced players and, along with former West Indies Under-19 pacer Lionel Baker and Steve Liburd, the Leeward Islands have a very good unit.
Player to watch: Shane Jeffers
- A.F.
WINDWARD ISLANDS
Rawl Lewis and Floyd Reifer
Championships: Two
SQUAD: Rawl Lewis (capt.), Liam Sebastien, Shane Shillingford, Mervin Matthew, Devon Smith, Heron Campbell, Nelon Pascal, Andre Fletcher, Daren Sammy, Gary Mathurin, Deighton Butler, Lindon James, Donwell Hector, Miles Bascombe.
IT IS not beyond a team with the likes of Devon 'Shot Gun' Smith, Rawl Lewis, Deighton Butler and Daren Sammy to win the regional one-day competition.
These players are experienced and the fact that Sammy, Smith, Lewis and Bulter have all played for the West Indies, but not consistently, would show they want to prove a point.
In their drive for championship honours, Smith, Liam Sebastien and Mervin Matthew will have to score heavily while Lewis, Butler, Sammy and Shane Shillingford will have to be consistent in their line and length.
Player to watch: Liam Sebastien
- A.F.
UWI
Championships: None
Squad: Shirley Clarke (capt.), Omar Phillips, Romel Currency, Jason Parris, Floyd Reifer, Chadwick Walton, Craig Emmanuel, Ramnarine Chattergoon, Jason Bennett, Khismar Catlin, Kavesh Kantasingh, Simon Jackson, Nekolai Charles, and Ashley Nurse.
THE INEXPERIENCED University of the West Indies (UWI) team will not necessarily be a walkover in this one-day tournament.
Any team with Floyd Reifer, a former West Indies Test player who had much success at this level for Barbados, Shirley Clark, who captained the West Indies Under-19s in 1996 and represented Barbados at the senior level, Romel Currency, Jason Parris, Craig Emmanuel and Jason Bennett, should be able to cause a surprise or two.
Player to watch: Jason Bennett
- A.F.
AP
Jamaica look to turn around poor results
Jerome Taylor
Tym Glaser
Associate Editor - Sport
TO SAY the Jamaica cricket side has underachieved at the regional one-day tournament over the past few years is a bit like stating that Marion Jones told a fib.
The Jamaica team has basically stunk since winning it all in 1999-2000 and has even suffered the ignominy of not reaching the semi-finals for the past four years.
With so much talent on show, it's hard to fathom what's gone so horribly wrong. Next week, Jamaica will have another talent-laden side taking to the fields in Guyana and newly appointed skipper Chris Gayle said it's time for the team to turn over a new leaf and finally live up to its potential.
"We have more skills than any other island you can think of but for four years we have not performed and there must be some reason," Gayle said after the squad was pared down to the final 14 last Sunday.
"It's up to the individuals to perform and not anyone to tell them this and that. I am a pressure guy and hopefully I can motivate the guys," he said.
"If we plan properly and execute our plans on the field I am confident we can at least make the final four. Everybody's capable of getting the job done, but it's important that we bat out the 50 overs each time no matter what the conditions. Everyone has got to play their part and pull up their socks, it's as simple as that."
batting pressure on gayle
Much of the batting pressure will fall on Gayle's shoulders due to the absence of fellow West Indies lusty hitter Marlon Samuels with an ankle injury team management is looking at avenues to get him back into the squad if fit.
Supporting the left-handed opener will be Brenton Parchment, former skipper Tamar Lambert, late call-up Xavier Marshall, dynamic wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh, Australian import Brendan Nash, who is also a livewire in the field, Danza Hyatt and Shawn Findlay.
The attack will be without injured Jermaine Lawson but still looks as strong, or stronger, than any other in the region through the likes of Windies' pacers Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor, Andrew Richardson and debutant left-arm swing bowler Krishmar Santokie.
The slow-bowling ranks are led by left-armer Nikita Miller with Gayle, Lambert and Parchment able to eat up overs economically.
Although Gayle will be relied upon to form the foundation of Jamaica's innings, just as much attention will be paid to his debut performance for the island as captain.
He performed well while leading the West Indies to the one-day tournament victory over England in the northern summer but there were more than a few voices calling for Lambert to keep the Jamaica job.
This KFC Cup provides him with a great opportunity to further hone his captaincy skills and it will be hard for his side to perform worse than it has over the past few years.
JAMAICA
Championships: Six
Squad: Chris Gayle (capt.), Shawn Findlay, Xavier Marshall, Tamar Lambert, Donovan Sinclair, Danza Hyatt, Brenton Parchment, Brendan Nash, Nikita Miller, Carlton Baugh, Jerome Taylor, Krishmar Santokie, Daren Powell, Andrew Richardson.
Player to watch: Chris Gayle
