WITH 20 days left before Saint Lucia play hosts to the 2018 Windward Islands Senior Men’s 50 Overs Cricket Tournament, the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association has put its wheels in motion and in the process has invited 22 players to train in preparation for the week-long event.
According to SLNCA Operation Manager Brian Calixte, Training started on Thursday May 3rd at the Mindoo Phillip Park and will run until the final team-selection just ahead of the tournament.
The players will be engaged in a series of cricket drills, to include intense aerobic exercises.
The tournament, which bowls-off here on Sunday 20th May, will see players from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada and Saint Lucia confront each other in what is expected to be a fierce battle for the Windward islands Sub Regional One-Day bragging rights — and an opportunity to represent the Windward Islands in the Cricket West Indies 50-Overs format.
Matches will be played at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground and the Mindoo Phillip Park — and the possible use of the Gros Islet playing field if the need arises.
The SLNCA Technical staff, with careful consideration, has also included two new faces in the training squad — Junior Alfred and Roshan Lesmond.
Hard-hitting opening batsman Johnson Charles is expected to lead the charge, along with West Indies Under-19 and ICC World Cup 2018 opening batsman Kimani Melius, Windward Islands under-19 captain Johnnel Eugene, as well as Jamaal James, Audy Alexander, KeddyLesporis, Larry Edward, Dornan Edward, Dalton Polius, Stephen Naitram, Dillan John, Tonius Simon, Shem Severin, Kevin Augustin, Christian Ange, Vidal Crandon, Shervin George, Collinus Calendar, Tarryck Gabriel and Craig Emmanuel.
The players will be under the watchful eyes of West Indies Level 3 coaches Alton Crafton and Walter Emmanuel, both former national players.