14 players named for Red Bull cricket tourney

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

FOURTEEN players and two officials from local colleges and universities will leave the island today to compete in the second staging of the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Tournament to be held in the United Kingdom, July 21-26.

The players were selected from the University of West Indies, University of Technology, Mico University College, Exed Community College and Church Teachers' College.

The competition which was held for the first time last year will be a Twenty20 affair. The other competing teams are Leeds Bradford (MCC) from the United Kingdom, University of New South Wales (Australia), University of Liberal Art (Bangladesh), University of Pretoria (South Africa) and International College of Business & Technology (Sri Lanka). The matches will be played at the Wormsley Cricket Ground and the Kia Oval.

Oshane Walters, captain if intercollegiate Twenty20 champions University of West Indies, will lead the team The former Manchester High and Under 19 skipper is very optimistic about the team's chances.

"I am very elated to be named captain of the team. The guys are very enthusiastic and we are very confident that we will make the country proud," he said.

Strong batting unit

Walters thinks the squad is a balanced one.

"In batting we are very solid as the likes of Dalbert Gayle, Oraine Williams, Pete Salmon , Chrisna Graham and myself are a strong batting unit while in the bowling pacer James McDonald, leg spinners Stefan Casey and Pete Coley are all expected to do well," he said.

Terrence Corke of the University of Technology will travel as coach while Alty Solomon, senior lecturer at The Mico University College is the manager.