Cricketers prepare for Windwards tourney

The Windward Island cricketers may still be smarting from their elimination in the One-Day semifinal match to Guyana last Friday in Barbados. But they have an opportunity to regroup and try for the Four-day championship starting next January. {{more}}

Before that, however, prospective players will have to force their way into their national squads. And to that aspect, an 18-man party has been announced to train for possible selection to the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Senior squad.

Those include Orlanzo Jackson, Deighton Butler, Roland Wilkinson and Lyndon James, of the last Windwards One-Day team.

Former Windwards batsmen Reynold McLean, and Kenroy Martin will join them. Hyron Shallow burst onto the Vincentian squad last year and again has the chance to advance. But he will have to produce the runs needed. Nicolas Baptiste, Kissinger McLean, Othneil Baptiste, Oneil Thomas, Renwick Williams, Orlando Simmons, Marlon John, Dyke Cato and Alston Bobb are also in the party. There are two newcomers, Hank Hall and Miles Bascombe, both graduates from the Windwards Under 19 squad.

There are two notable omissions. Opener Romel Currency, who has built something of a partnership with West Indies opener Devon Smith, is continuing his accounts classes and has opted out of the training squad. Left arm seamer Kenroy Peters, who made his mark at the West Indies Under-19 level, had been sidelined with an injury.

The squad will be narrowed to 14 in time for the Windwards Island tournament. That is carded for St. Lucia November 26 to December 6.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the defending Windward Island champion.