TWO Saint Lucians have been included in the West Indies Academy 15-man squad to tour Ireland from April 8 to 29.
This week, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced the team which is due to tour Ireland, as the Windies prepare for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup slated for June 1 to 29.
Saint Lucian pair, top order batter Ackeem Auguste, and fast bowler Mc Kenny Clarke are in the squad.
The tour will comprise five matches, three 50-over matches and two four-day matches against Ireland’s Emerging Men’s Team. It signifies a reciprocal tour following Ireland’s visit to the West Indies in November 2023.
Nyeem Young, the right-hand medium will continue as Captain, with Teddy Bishop as Vice-Captain for both formats.
“We continue to be methodical in our approach by exposing our academy players to various opposition and conditions across different formats. This is key to their development and fosters resilience and adaptability,” said Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket.
“Nyeem’s leadership qualities have been evident throughout his tenure, notably steering the Academy team during the Super50 and West Indies Championship campaigns. His continued captaincy is a testament to his exceptional leadership skills and contribution to the team,” noted Graeme West, CWI’s High-Performance Manager in reference to Young.
Regarding Bishop’s selection as Vice-Captain, West highlights, “Teddy Bishop’s elevation to Vice Captaincy underscores his growing stature within the team. His adept handling of leadership responsibilities during Young’s absence and his invaluable experience with the West Indies A Team and Senior Teams make him an ideal choice for the role.”
The full squad is listed below:
Nyeem Young – Captain, Teddy Bishop – Vice Captain; Kadeem Alleyne, Jewel Andrew, Ackeem Auguste, Joshua Bishop, McKenny Clarke, Joshua James, Jordan Johnson,
Leonardo Julian, Johann Layne, Ashmead Nedd, Kelvin Pitman, Ramon Simmonds, Carlon Tuckett.
Team Management Unit:
Head Coach: Ramesh Subasinghe, Assistant Coach: Rohan Nurse, Physiotherapist: Neil Barry, Strength & Conditioning Coach: Shayne Cooper, Manager & Team Analyst: Kesh Ramphal.
Note: Matthew Forde is the only contracted academy player not selected. Forde is vying to be selected for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
–R.A.