Vincentian trio in WI Women’s World Cup team

Vincentians Julianna Nero, Cordel Jack, and Genielle Greaves have made the West Indies Women’s Cricket Team to this year’s Women’s Cricket World Cup, which will be played in Australia next month.{{more}}

The three were selected in the 15 member team, following a training camp staged in Barbados late last month.

But it is a return to the West Indies fold for Jack and Greaves. Jack, who was one of the top performers in the 2008 regional competition, did not find her way in the selectors’ list that travelled to Sri Lanka on a warm up tour late last year.

But she impressed in the warm up matches in Barbados, held recently, and heads for her second World Cup outing following her sojourn to South Africa in 2005.

Greaves, on the other hand, was confined to University studies for the past three years, which restricted her involvement in the sport.

But she was happy to be back in the thick of things and told SEARCHLIGHT last Wednesday afternoon at the Arnos Vale Plying Field, while going through her training programme, that she was eagerly looking forward to the experience.

“I want to get some runs and get back to top of my game,” said Greaves, a middle order batsman.

“I am just going to aim for the best,” she added.

Also elated that all three Vincentians are in is the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Women’s Cricket Coach Cleton Burnett.

“I am happy for the girls, especially Cordel (Jack), who was doing well over the last three years, but not getting into the team,” Burnett said.

He revealed that he has been assigned to oversee the trio’s daily training and conditioning programme prior to their departure on February 22, 2009.

“There are specific things that they have to do each day,” Burnett said, as he took a glance at his clipboard.

“I expect them to perform,” Burnett stated.

The other Vincentian selected, Julianna Nero, is no stranger to West Indies Women’s team in recent times.

Nero toured Holland, England, and Ireland, with the regional team last year and also journeyed to Sri Lanka on the subsequent tour.

Nero, like Jack, was part of the West Indies team that participated in the last World Cup, which was staged in South Africa.

The West Indies team will be captained by Trinidadian, Merissa Aguilleira, with fellow Trinidadian Kirbyina Alexander as her deputy.

Anisa Mohammed and Stacy Ann King are the other Trinidadians selected.

The team is also comprised of Stefanie Taylor and Shanel Daley of Jamaica; Pamela Lavine, Charlene Taitt, Danielle Small and Shakera Selman, of Barbados, and Afy Fletcher, of Grenada.

The West Indies open their campaign on March 8 versus South Africa. Also in Group A are New Zealand and host Australia.

In Group B are India, Pakistan England and Sri Lanka. Three teams from the two groups will advance to the Super Sixes.