Jamaica Gleaner article.
Kingston, Jamaica - Jamaica's coach, Junior Bennett, and his Guyanese counterpart, Esuan Crandon, are both expressing confidence heading into their opening round West Indies Cricket Board Four-Day tournament tie at Sabina Park, beginning today.
The encounter, set to bowl off at 10 a.m., will see both teams hunting a winning start to this season's campaign.
"We are at home, and the plan at home is to always maximise points," said Bennett following the team's final training session at the venue yesterday.
"It will not be easy, however, as Guyana are a good quality team with some world-class players, which means that we will have to play good, consistent cricket over the four days if we are to get a positive result."
Jamaica, who are seeking to reclaim the title, are set to enter today's showdown with a fairly similar squad to that which participated in the recent regional Super50 where they were eliminated at the semi-final stage.
Miller Missing
Missing will be reliable left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, who is currently on West Indies duties against England, and hard-hitting opener Kennar Lewis, who was overlooked, while in comes rank off-spinner Jamie Merchant.
With top batsman Marlon Samuels also on West Indies duties as well, the starting team should include Nkrumah Bonner, who scored an unbeaten 122 against Guyana in the Super50 tournament, André McCarthy, who stroked 93 against the Windwards, and opener John Campbell, who made 76 against Ireland.
The local team's bowling will be led by the fast bowlers Jerome Taylor, Andrew Richardson, and Sheldon Cottrell.
Guyana, who finished fifth last season, have an experienced batting line-up which includes captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon, and Assad Fudadin.
Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, with young pacer Ronford Beaten, who impressed with his pace and accuracy during the Super50, will lead the visitors' bowling attack.
"We know Jamaica are tough opposition, and we will need to play better cricket than them to get the upper hand. But we are confident of doing well," said Guyana coach Crandon.
Barbados are down to face Windward Islands at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia in the round's other match-up starting today, while tomorrow, the Leewards will entertain Combined Campuses and Colleges at Warner Park in St Kitts.