Johnson among six Jamaicans on Windies U19 squad

Left-handed batsman Jordan Johnson is among six Jamaicans who have been named in the West Indies Rising Stars under-19 squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The tour begins on August 25.

The selection panel named 15 players for the Rising Stars under-19s tour which will feature three 50-over matches and two four-day matches against the Sri Lanka under-19 team at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

Johnson who scored a century against Barbados on the opening day of the final of the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 three-day final is joined by right-arm leg spinner Tamarie Redwood, left-handed batter Steve Wedderburn, right-handed batter Adrian Weir and fast bowlers Deshawn James and Reon Edwards.

Jamaica’s double-winning coach at the Rising Stars Under-19 tournament, Terrence Corke, said the six picks to the regional side were justified, however, he would have wanted a couple more based on the dominance shown by the Jamaicans during the 50-over and three-day tournament.

“I am elated at the selections, but I thought we could have gotten two more picks with our wicket-keeper Trevaun Williams who was the best wicketkeeper in the tournament, but he was a bit short on runs and my captain Brad Barnes who was the best captain in the tournament. All in all, I believe with the World Cup coming up next year they can still get a chance,” said Corke.

NEEDED GAME TIME

Lead selector Robert Haynes pointed to the fact that with the World Cup scheduled for next year, the players have some time to get in some much-needed game time in preparation.

“This is an integral part of the preparations for next year’s ICC men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup which will also be played in Sri Lanka. The players will get a first-hand look at the conditions and become acclimatised. We are also very happy that we will have the chance to play two four-day matches. We see the red ball format as very important and vital to the development of our young players. We have not played a Youth Test in a long while and so this is a welcome return to the tour itinerary.”

Meanwhile, top-order batter Stephan Pascal will be captain for the white ball matches with Nathan Sealy, the left-handed slow bowling allrounder, to lead the side for two red ball matches which conclude the tour. The squad includes three players who played in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup in 2022 which was hosted in the West Indies. They are fast-bowler Isai Thorne, allrounder Nathan Edward and Johnson.

Jamaica’s Gibbs Williams will be the manager on the tour.

Full squad: Stephan Pascal (co-captain), Nathan Sealy (co-captain), Jewel Andrew, Mavendra Dindyal, Joshua Dorne, Nathan Edward, Tarrique Edward,

Reon Edwards, Deshawn James, Jordan Johnson, Devonie Joseph, Tamarie Redwood, Isai Thorne, Steve Wedderburn and Adrian Weir.

Team management: Rohan Nurse (head coach); Rohan Clarke (assistant coach), Nick Wilton (assistant coach), Gibbs Williams (team manager),

Dominic Angoy (physiotherapist), Gregory Seale (strength and conditioning coach).

Lennox Aldred