Barbados name strong squad

Published: Thursday | January 1, 2009


BRIDGETOWN (CMC):

The Barbados cricket selectors named middle-order batsman Rohan Nurse, on Monday, as the only newcomer in their squad for the start of the 2009 WICB four-day regional tournament.

Nurse, 25, helped to secure his place with a fine hundred on the last day of Monday's drawn Arawak Cement Barbados Preparation Series match at the North Stars Ground.

The 13-man Barbados squad to face Trinidad and Tobago in their season-opener on January 9 will be led by Jason Haynes.

The unit includes eight players with West Indies experience - Sulieman Benn and Kemar Roach, fresh from their tour assignment in New Zealand, Ryan Hinds, Dwayne Smith, Tino Best, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Dwayne Smith and wicket-keeper/batsman Patrick Browne.

Nurse (132), the 21-year-old Jonathan Carter (131) and Browne (95) all scored heavily for the Jason Haynes XI to reach 473 all out in reply to 374 by Corey Collymore's side.

All-rounder Kevin Stoute was the chief wicket-taker for Collymore's XI, with three for 19 off 6.5 overs.

Pleased

While sharing in a 202-run sixth-wicket stand with Carter, Nurse, a former Barbados Under-19 captain, stroked 16 fours and one six, and was pleased to get his first call for the senior side.

"It's the greatest feeling I've ever had in my life, apart from the birth of my daughter," Nurse said in a Barbados Cricket Association website story.

The announcement of the squad and seven reserves was made by chairman of selectors, Courtney Browne, at a press conference following the match.

Squad: Jason Haynes (captain), Rohan Nurse, Dale Richards, Ryan Hinds, Dwayne Smith, Patrick Browne, Jonathan Carter, Kevin Stoute, Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Kemar Roach.

Reserves: Rashidi Boucher, Nikolai Charles, Corey Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Carlo Morris, Shane Ramsay, Barrington Yearwood.