SVG Under-19 Cricketers on a hat trick

A thirteen member St. Vincent and the Grenadines Under-19 cricket team is off to Grenada in defence of the Windwards title, and complete the hat trick of titles.{{more}}

The team which left here last Wednesday morning, shows four survivors from last year’s winning team.

Keiron Cottoy, also a member of the senior St. Vincent and the Grenadines team, takes over the role of captain.

West Indies youth player Dellorn Johnson who was first selected, and was to be Cottoy’s deputy, had to pull out after he was called up for a West Indies select team to play against the touring Sri Lankans this weekend in Tobago. Johnson recently returned from Malaysia with the regional team after participating in the Youth World Cup.

Also returning is Wayne Harper, who last year gained selection to the Windwards squad in the TCL West Indies Tournament. Atticus Browne and Kesrick Williams, complete members of last year’s team.

Elron Lewis and Jenry Ollivierre elevate from last year’s reserves to the final thirteen. Ollivierre is from the Grenadine island of Bequia.

Completing the squad are Sunil Ambris, Marvin Small, Rongel Small, Rodrigo Thomas, Casmond Walters and Romano Warren.

It has been a busy period of travelling for Ambris, who last Monday returned from Dominica, where he represented the Windwards in the Clico West Indies championship.

The talented Ambris is the team’s wicket keeper, despite not doing the glove work for the Windwards in Dominica. He is likely to be selected to the West Indies Under-15 team to play in the International tournament next month.

Elton Joseph, after securing a place in the team that travelled to St. Lucia did not maintain his place and is relegated among the reserves, which also include Julius Jack, Kent Lewis and T’ Shaka Patterson.

Ortis Jack returns as Coach and Roger Davis, Manager. A confident Davis told SEARCHLIGHT that his team should retain the title.

“We have a balanced team, as most of the players have been playing in the local competition for a number of years and they bring a lot of experience”, Davis said.

He however thought that the time given to prepare the team was not what they were looking for, but believed the selectors did a good job in the circumstances.

The defending champion opened their campaign against St. Lucia, today, Friday. St. Vincent and the Grenadines plays Grenada on Sunday. Tuesday is a rest day. Their final match in the two day encounters is against Dominica, starting next Wednesday. The one day championship follows. (RT)