Junior Bennett
GROS ISLET, St. Lucia (CMC):
A depleted Jamaica and hosts Windward Islands were keeping close watch on the weather as they prepared for their Carib Beer Series second-round clash starting this morning (9:00 a.m. Jamaican time) at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Rain, forecast for today with thunderstorms also forecast for tomorrow and Sunday, could disrupt a match crucial to both teams.
Jamaica, who lost first innings points against the Leeward Islands in their first-round clash have been affected by the loss of four of their leading players in Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor and Darren Powell who returned to Jamaica yesterday in preparation for the West Indies tour of India.
They have been replaced by the quartet of batsman Jamie Trenchfield, fast bowler André Russell, off-spinner Bevon Brown and batsman Danza Hyatt.
FORCED SITUATION
"Travel arrangements forced this situation on us and the players have to return home to pick up their gear and get prepared for the India tour," Jamaican coach, Junior Bennett, told CMC Sports.
In contrast, the Windwards will have all-rounder Darren Sammy and opening batsman Devon Smith available for the encounter, even though they have also been named in the West Indies squad.
"Fortunately, we will be having Darren Sammy and Devon Smith with us. Initially, they were supposed to be leaving us after the first game in preparation for the tour to India, but we got word that they will be part of our set-up for this game, and that's a plus for us," Windwards coach Ian Allen said.
The Windwards are keen for more hours of play as rain forced their match against Guyana last weekend to end in a no decision.
"Even though we did not get four full days of cricket in Grenada, I think we still managed to come out with some positives in the sense that we almost reached 400, 392 for eight declared," Allen noted.
MISSION TO REBOUND
The Jamaicans are on a mission to rebound, having dropped first innings points against the Leewards in their opening fixture in St. Kitts.
"This is a very important match for us. We lost first innings points to the Leewards, so we definitely want to rebound despite the fact that we will be losing four of our top players," Bennett admitted.
"We are looking forward to a very competitive game and hopefully we will be coming out on top."
The game was shifted from St. Vincent and the Grenadines' Sion Hill playing field to Beausejour, a change which Bennett said had not affected their plans.
"It doesn't affect our preparations whatsoever. We were told from early out. They have a right to play the game wherever they want to play. It will definitely not affect our game," Bennett asserted.
Meanwhile, early front-runners, Barbados, are expecting the Leeward Islands to be a handful, when they contest their second round match at the North Stars Social and Cultural Club.
Though Barbados have won four of their last 10 matches against the Leewards, they have suffered two heavy defeats, and have conceded first innings points in a couple other contests.
"In my years playing against the Leewards, they are a very attacking and exciting team," Barbados captain Ryan Hinds told reporters yesterday. "It will be a very competitive game. We're looking forward to playing some good, positive cricket."
T&T-Guyana
Trinidad and Tobago's senior selectors have retained the same 15-man squad for their second-round clash with Guyana today but weather seems set to play a major role when the match bowls off at Guaracara Park.
There is no room again from West Indies rookie opening batsman Lendl Simmons and or Ravi Rampaul, both of whom remain injured.
Physical and net sessions for both teams, carded for the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, on Wednesday had to be cancelled because of the inclement weather which has battered the twin-island republic over the last few days.
However, the teams made full use of the Indoor Facilities at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Development Centre.
With more rain forecast for today, authorities are doubtful about a prompt start to the match.
