Skipper says Windwards can topple Jamaica again

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – The Windward Islands have one aim in mind as they step into battle in the NAGICO Super50, and that is to defend their title against all-comers.

Skipper Liam Sebastien was forthright as he spoke to ahead of the tournament-opener against Jamaica, which is slated for Queen's Park Oval on Thursday. The day/night fixture starts at 2pm (1pm Jamaica Time).

"It's very important to get off to w inning start and that's what we will look to do. In a tournament like this, if you don't win your first match, you basically have to win the next two to book a place in the semi-finals. That means our match against Jamaica will be vitally important," he said.

Last year, Sebastien was at the helm when the Windwards beat Jamaica in the semi-finals en route to winning the title and he noted that the approach will be to get the better of the Jamaicans again.

"We don't fear anybody. We beat Jamaica last year when, maybe, the whole Caribbean thought they would walk all over us….we beat them comfortably in the semi-finals. They are coming with plans and we have to counter them."

The allrounder added: "We won last year but this is a new year. We have put last year behind us and we will look to be even better this year. We are in new surroundings, new conditions, so we have to make a fresh start…but we are confident going into the tournament."

The pitch at the Queen's Park Oval had a covering of grass – which was a surprise to the Windwards captain. He said however this would not change his team's approach going into the match.

"I've never seen so much grass on the Queen's Park Oval pitch speaking to some people around they said the pitch is likely to offer some bounce. We will try to select the best team for these conditions and play it as we know it," he said.

"If we come tomorrow and the pitch is offering bounce we will adapt to what we get. We have our plans to who will be in the first eleven so we will adapt to what we are faced with. We'll be ready."

The NAGICO Super50 will be played in Trinidad and Tobago from January 30 to February 16. Matches will be at the historic Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain and the picturesque Shaw Park in Tobago.

The champions will take home the Clive Lloyd Trophy – named in honour of the legendary captain of the 1975 and 1979 World Cup winning teams.

Full squads

COMBINED CAMPUSES & COLLEGES: Steven Jacobs (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Ryan Austin, Kyle Corbin, Akeem Dewar, Kavem Hodge, Kyle Mayers, Kristopher Ramsaran, Wayne Morgan, Shacaya Thomas, Raymon Reifer, Chadwick Walton (wicket-keeper), Kesrick Williams, Floyd Reifer (player/coach)

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Adrian Barath, Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Jason Mohammed, Denesh Ramdin (wicket-keeper), Rayad Emrit, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Imran Khan, Yannick Ottley, Shannon Gabriel, Kevon Cooper; Kelvin Williams (coach)

IRELAND: William Porterfield (captain), Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, John Mooney, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien, Andrew Poynter, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young; Phil Simmons (coach).

JAMAICA: David Bernard Jr (captain), Nikita Miller (vice captain), Andre Russell, Carlton Baugh Jr (wicket-keeper), Tamar Lambert, Andrew Richardson, Horace Miller, John Campbell, Jermaine Blackwood, Andre McCarthy, Sheldon Cottrell, Jerome Taylor, Nkrumah Bonner, Kenar Lewis; Junior Bennett (coach)

WINDWARD ISLANDS: Liam Sebastien (captain), Andre Fletcher (vice captain), Johnson Charles (wicket-keeper), Tyron Theophille, Mervin Matthew, Craig Emmanuel, Garey Mathurin, Keddy Lesporis, Devon Smith, Dalton Polius, Delorn Johnson, Kenroy Peters, Romel Currency, Alston Bobb; Ian Allen (coach)

GUYANA: Christopher Barnwell (captain), Shiv Chanderpaul (vice captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Anthony Bramble (wicket-keeper), Robin Bacchus, Trevon Griffith, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz; Esuan Crandon (coach)

BARBADOS: Kevin Stoute (captain), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Rashidi Boucher, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Shane Dowrich (wicket-keeper), Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Dwayne Smith, Kenroy Williams; Hendy Springer (coach)

LEEWARD ISLANDS: Kieran Powell (captain), Devon Thomas (vice captain/wicket-keeper), Justin Athanaze, Lionel Baker, Quinton Boatswain, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Sylvester Joseph, Anthony Martin, Mali Richards, Gavin Tonge, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kelbert Walters; Ridley Jacobs (coach)

Match schedule

January

Thursday, 30th: Windwards vs Jamaica at Queen's Park Oval

Friday, 31st: Guyana vs Ireland at Queen's Park Oval

February

Saturday, 1st: Leewards vs CCC at Queen's Park Oval

Sunday, 2nd: T&T vs Barbados at Queen's Park Oval

Monday, 3rd: Jamaica vs Ireland at Queen's Park Oval

Tuesday, 4th: Guyana vs Windwards at Queen's Park Oval

Wednesday, 5th: Leewards vs T&T at Shaw Park

Thursday, 6th: CCC vs Barbados at Shaw Park

Friday, 7th: Ireland vs Windwards at Queen's Park Oval

Saturday, 8th: Guyana vs Jamaica at Queen's Park Oval

Sunday, 9th: CCC vs T&T at Queen's Park Oval

Monday, 10th: Barbados vs Leewards at Queen's Park Oval

Wednesday, 12th: Semi-final 1 – Zone A winner vs Zone B second at Queen's Park Oval

Thursday, 13th: Semi-final 2 – Zone B winner vs Zone A second at Queen's Park Oval

Saturday 15th: FINAL – Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of Semi-final 2 at Queen's Park Oval