Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Eltham High's batting sensation, Shacoya Thomas, failed to make Jamiaca's squad for the coming Under-19 regional tournament in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICA SCHOOLBOY cricket's highest individual scorer, Eltham's Shacoya Thomas, was not 'good enough' to make the national Under-19 squad selected on Tuesday to represent the island at next month's regional TCL Group Championships in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
"We saw a lot of him (Thomas) during training and the matches and he is a good talent that is on the way," Courtney Daley, chairman of the junior selection panel, told The Gleaner yesterday.
"However, we thought this year he was not up to the standard of the other players," Daley said.
Thomas, who scored 324 not out while batting more than nine and one-half hours in the Grace Shield final against St. Catherine, was left out of the squad which was announced at a presentation of colours, at the Four Seasons Hotel.
THE BEST MOVE
The chairman of selectors said he believes this move is best for the 16-year-old who has another two seasons available to him at this level.
"It's no injustice ... It is just that we think that he will be coming better. I think there is a lot in him, another year won't be bad for him," Daley said.
In this year's urban Grace Shield competition, Thomas struck two centuries. Apart from the triple ton, he scored 121 in a semi-final match against Jamie Trenchfield-led Kingston College.
He also scored a century (110) in the Colts Under-16 final against Norman Manley at Melbourne Oval.
NOT SUPRISED
Eltham's coach, Oral Simpson, said he was not surprised by Thomas's omission.
"I'm not surprised because I watched most of the practice games he played in and he wasn't the Schacoya I coached. He got out some times too easily," Simpson said.
"Knowing him, he must be disappointed," the school coach said.
"That was one of his goals - to play for the youth team. However, I think the experience did a lot of good for him and I know he will make it next year."
In seven innings for the Young Jamaicans in the preparation matches, Thomas' only knock over 15 was 41 in last Sunday's Senior Cup match against Clarendon.
Thomas, along with Marcel Parchment, Dhane Robinson and Christie Jones were the players omitted from the 18-man squad.
Daley said it was difficult to pick the final 14.
"We have very good players in the 18-man squad. We had to leave back some people but the four we left out can all repeat next season.
"I think we have a very good all-round team, I think the team will do us well in both versions (one-dayers and three-dayers) of the competition."
Batsmen Trenchfield, who has been etained as captain, Albert Gopie, Ziggy Levy and Zaniffe Fowler, along with wicketkeeper/batsmen Damion Ebanks and Jeffrey Scott, spinners Alton Beckford and Dennis Bulli are the returning players.
Batsmen Nickoy Samuels and Andre McCarthy, fast bowlers André Russell, Ricardo Sitcheron, Omar Brooks and spinner Cordel Simpson are the new faces.
Squad: Jamie Trenchfield (captain), Albert Gopie, Ziggy Levy, Zaniffe Fowler, Damion Ebanks, Jeffrey Scott, Nickoy Samuels, Andre McCarthy, Andre Russell, Ricardo Sitcheron, Omar Brooks, Alton Beckford, Dennis Bulli and Cordell Simpson.
