Windwards’ triumph delights manager

Manager of the Windward Islands under-19 cricket team Vincentian Irvine Warrican is delighted that his team was able to lift the 50-over title of this year’s regional competition.{{more}}

Warrican expressed his satisfaction last Friday afternoon at a press briefing, held at the National Sports Council’s conference room at the Arnos Vale One Playing Field.

Apart from Warrican, the four Vincentians in the successful team: Shaquille Browne, Kenneth Dember, Ray Jordan and Gidron Pope were on hand to share their views on their team’s efforts.

A pleased Warrican said “The guys played well, but there is still room for improvement.

“The future looks good for cricket in the Windwards… our batters looked as good anyone else,” Warrican, who is also the Windwards territorial development officer, added.

Warrican revealed that during the tournament, the team got good reviews from noted past West Indies players, who said they were impressed with several of the players.

Warrican holds the view that the Windwards possess at least six players who can make their way into the West Indies Under-19 team for the next ICC World Cup.

However, Warrican wants to see systems put in place, to help with the players’ mental game.

“I think we need to put something in place to teach the knowledge of the game,” Warrican stated.

He made this claim, as he observed that at times, the players had matches to win, but through mental lapses, lost the plot and the match.

This, Warrican said, may have caused them their fourth place in the three-day format, despite being competitive throughout.

Warrican said that other teams have also observed this kink in the Windwards’ players, and use it against them.

Warrican, however, singled out St Lucian batsman Tarryck Gabriel, whom he thinks plays with self-belief and is self-assured.

The Windwards, in their last match on Wednesday, did what was necessary to overcome the Leewards by six wickets.

The Windwards entered the contest needing a win, as well as bonus points to surpass Guyana.

Batting first, the Leewards were dismissed for 147 off 44.3 overs.

Pope 2 for 22, Ray Jordan 2 for 26 and Grenadian Preston Mc Sween 2 for 33, took the bulk of the wickets.

Gabriel then made 60 not out off 70 balls, which took his team to the target with 83 balls left.

Warrican noted that the management team decided to play an all pace attack against the Leewards, to take advantage of the bonus points, in which 0.5 point is rewarded for each wicket taken by a fast bowler.

Warrican disclosed that nine of the fourteen players from the 2012 squad will be eligible for the 2013 tournament; hence, he believes the Windwards should make a good challenge to also take the three-day competition.

Jordan and Pope are available for next year’s tournament.(RT)