Saint Lucia will seek to wrest the WINLOTT Inc Windward Islands Cricket Board Under-15 title back from the Commonwealth of Dominica this coming weekend, when the 2024 tournament gets underway at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground (DSCG), Gros Islet Playing Field, and Mindoo Phillip Park. The tournament will run for eight days, featuring four national teams.
Head coach Alton Crafton said the Saint Lucia team has been training assiduously, as the youngsters seek to follow in the footsteps of some of the graduates from this programme over the years. Kimani Melius, Ackeem Auguste, McKenny Clarke, Tarrique Edward, and Theo Edward are among the former Under-15 national players who have gone on to regional representation.
“Speaking to them, they all have their eyes on reaching to the top, and that’s very, very good for us,” said Crafton. “They all aspire to go on with the game. And they are inspired by the older ones. You remember Theo getting four centuries a couple of years ago, so we remind them of these things, so they are all motivated to do well.”
The 2024 team features five players returning from last year’s competition. Left-arm orthodox spinner and top-order right-handed batter Jeanille Williams will serve as captain. Jean Claude Emmanuel, a right-arm seam bowler and top-order right-handed batter will serve as his deputy.
Also returning from the 2023 squad are right-arm seamer Kaleb Charles, right-handed top-order batsmen and spinners Daniel Lorde and Kyle Stephens.
Two other players have made the Windward Islands Under-13 squad in the past. Left-handed middle-order batter and right-arm seam bowler Kerlan Daniel and right-handed seam-bowling all-rounder Samuel Jean will hope to make the grade at Under-15 as well.
The 14-member squad also comprises right-arm seam bowler Curdin Jones, off-spinner Hervon Jn Charles, pacers Cypriani Norville and Darjhan Sammy, leg-spinner Trevern Edward, top order batsman Shervone Mathurin, and all-rounder Harry Monzie.
Williams has been outstanding in recent practice matches, starring with bat and ball. Emmanuel has been scoring consistently as well, whilst Stephen, Sammy, Jean, Wilson, and Charles have all put their hands up at various points.
Crafton leads the management team, which also includes assistant coach Dalton Polius and manager Roseline Preville. The squad has also benefited from the support of John Eugene, coach of the Saint Lucia High Performance Centre, and Daren Sammy, the West Indies white-ball coach.
The tournament will be a double round-robin. Saint Lucia’s campaign begins on Sunday against Grenada at DSCG. The following Monday, the home team will play St Vincent & the Grenadines. Tuesday will be a rest day, and the hosts will clash with the defending champion on Wednesday.
The competition runs until December 15. The last time Saint Lucia hosted this series, in 2022, Theo Edward’s batting exploits led the home team to victory.
Photo: Team Saint Lucia last won in 2022.
