ST JOHN’s, Antigua – West Indies Under 19 Head Coach, Graeme West, is confident that the training camp being held in Antigua, (April 1 – 9) for the defending World Championship team, will lead to greater “efficiency and effectiveness” on the field.
West has declared that “the camp for the 21-member squad is highly specialized, and focuses intensely on the skills necessary to be successful in the 50-overs format. The coaching staff has tailored a comprehensive training package, which not only focuses on nurturing the young players’ talent, but developing some useful methods relevant to real match scenarios also.”
The Head Coach explained that each player has been working on individualized training programmes since the last training camp held in December. The players took a break because of their participation in the Regional Super50, which was deemed a success. They were afforded the invaluable experience of competing against top-class talent from the region, along with the visiting Kent Spitfires team.
The young Windies squad will get the opportunity to test their skills and methods against high level competition. The coach noted that “with their upcoming tours to South Africa in July and Zimbabwe later this year, the tours are designed to fine-tune the team’s preparation.”
The tour to South Africa will consist of eight matches. “The trip will assist in developing the combinations and game plans that will need to be well established in order for the team to be competitive at the World Cup in 2018.” the Head Coach asserted. “The talent of adapting seamlessly to different pitch conditions is one that will surely be enhanced through these tours also,” he added.
West was quick to hail the exploits of his past team, while not putting too much pressure on the current squad. He also stressed on the eagerness of this team to compete, proclaiming, “It will be a huge challenge to defend the title won in Bangladesh last February and no team has won back to back U19 World Cups since its conception, but this group of players are determined to follow in the footsteps of Hetmyer, Joseph and company, to create their own piece of history.”
Emmanuel Stewart and Kirstan Kallicharan, part of the 2016 Championship team, return to the 21-member squad now in camp.
21-member squad
Keagan Simmons – TT
Cephas Cooper – TT
Navin Bdaisee – TT
Matthew Patrick – TT
Te-Shawn Alleyne – TT
Kallicharan – TT
Alick Athanaze – Windward Islands
Johann Jerimah – Windward Islands
Johnnel Eugene – Windward Islands
Daneal Dupigny – Windward Islands
Darron Nedd – Windward Islands
Stewart – Windward Islands
Jeavor Royal – Jamaica
Kian Pemberton – Leeward Islands
Javier Spencer – Leeward Islands
Mikyle Louis – Leeward Islands
Joshua Persaud – Guyana
Bhaskar Yadram – Guyana
Joshua Bishop – Barbados
Nyeem Young – Barbados
Shian Brathwaite – Barbados
Management Team
Graeme West – Head Coach
Corey Collymore – Assistant Coach
Shanye Cooper – Strength and Conditioning
Vernon Williams – Physiotherapist
Dwain Gill – Manager
