Captain and coach confident ahead of Under-19 World Cup

Buoyed by recent series wins over England and Sri Lanka, an upbeat West Indies Under-19 squad departed Barbados yesterday, ahead of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Joining the delegation at the Grantley Adams International Airport were parents, supporters and members of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) executive, led by president Calvin Hope.

Head coach, Rohan Nurse says the objective is to continue in the same winning vein during the World Cup.

“One of the minimum objectives for us is to ensure that we get into that semi-final stage, which will be bettering the team from the last World Cup. 

“The mood has been very, very good and ultimately we have been innovative in terms of trying to keep them together. We have not been assembled in one space since the series against England, but have been in continuous communication. Everybody’s pretty clear in terms of what the objectives are and what their roles are, so we’re just looking forward for them to execute,” Nurse said.

Nurse also believes the team is well equipped for any match situation or pitch condition which they encounter during the upcoming tournament, which runs from January 15 to February 6.

“Ultimately, over the past two series we’ve batted first on occasions and we would have won games, we would have chased and we would have won games. I think that the team assembled is one that pretty much is prepared for any situation that we encounter. 

“During ICC events, there’s a standard in terms of what the surfaces are like and with the squad that we have assembled, we’ve got a good group of young fast bowlers; we’ve got wrist spinners, attacking wrist spinners, and we are prepared for anything that comes our way.”

According to Nurse, the team appreciates the history of the West Indies cricket brand, with a regional U19 team last winning the ICC title 10 years ago.

“Ultimately it’s good to know the history and that is something that we’ve tried to do not only with the Under-19s, but we’ve tried to incorporate the use of legends and stuff like that, so that they understand what it takes, what’s the history like playing for West Indies and what it means to the Caribbean.

“Ultimately every World Cup cycle is a new slate, it’s not a direct correlation on previous performances, but these guys are very aware of what’s at stake and they’re about to embrace the opportunity to create their own history,” Nurse pointed out.

It will be the second Under-19 World Cup for captain Joshua Dorne, and the Barbadian is embracing the expected challenges and responsibilities that come with the role.

“You know, just the exposure of playing in an international ICC tournament, getting that experience, for everybody it means a lot,” he said.

“I’m feeling really, really confident in the team. As you mentioned the experience against England and also against Sri Lanka, defeating those two teams, it gives us a big confidence boost going into the World Cup.”

Dorne heads a group of five Barbadians in the squad and also joins compatriots Shai Hope, Roston Chase and Hailey Matthews, as current captains of the various West Indies teams.

“I’m really proud of them. You know from the regional tournament back in July we’ve been working really hard at our craft. As you mentioned with the history of Barbadian captains it really means a lot, and I’m just looking to do my best,” Dorne said.

West Indies open their campaign against Tanzania on January 15.