Windies `young guns’ battle awesome Aussies today at Everest
By Clyde Pestano
Stabroek News
April 5, 2003
The Australian tour of the West Indies gets cracking today at the Everest Ground from 10:00hrs. The awesome Aussies will lock horns with a WICB Carib Beer XI which includes five Trini’s, one player each from Guyana, Jamaica and the Windward Islands and two from the Leeward Islands.
The team is captained by Leeward’s batsman Sylvester Joseph and includes, Imran Jan (T&T), Dwayne Bravo (T&T), Aneil Kanhai (T&T),Dave Mohammed (T&T), Marlon Black (T&T), Narsingh Deonarine (Guyana), Devon Smith (Windwards), Carlton Baugh jr (Jamaica - wicket-keeper), Omari Banks (Leewards) and Adam Sanford (Leewards).
The two reserves are Guyanese Travis Dowlin and Rayon Griffith.
Australian coach John Buchanan revealed that the Aussie team will be selected just prior to the start of the match.
The coach added, “we are expecting three days of good cricket.” He continued, “it is important that we play good cricket from the start of the tour, that is what we want to do right from the start, play good cricket.”
According to the coach, it does not matter to the Aussies whether they bat first or not, he said, “we have some very talented players and they will respond to whatever the conditions are.”
The Australian eleven will be selected from Steve Waugh (captain), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehman, Adam Gilcrist, Martin Love, Stuart MacGill, Brad Hogg, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Ashley Noffke.
President’s eleven manager/coach, Guyanese Clyde Butts spoke with Stabroek Sport and stated that he is satisfied with the composition of the team under the circumstances.
Butts said that he was expecting all the players to perform since if they do well the possibility exists that in the near future they may play for the West Indies senior team.
The manager was quizzed about the `apparent’ heir to Windies wicket- keeper Ridley Jacobs, Jamaican Carlton Baugh jr and said, “he’s got a lot of talent,” adding, “not only that but he seems to be a competent batsman.”
Butts was confident that his charges will do well since according to him they have been working hard at their game.
The manager when questioned about the Everest pitch, said, “having looked at it yesterday [Thursday] it seemed to have a bit more pace and bounce.” He added, it seems to be the hardest I’ve seen in years.”
He revealed that the vice-captain of the team will be named before the start of the match.
