Perry looks to blood youngsters during festival

BY ANDREW HANCEL Observer writer

Monday, April 05, 2010

It's being a long season for the country's senior cricket team. But just when it seemed like their season was over, captain Tamar Lambert leads the nation in an intense 15-day cricket festival, involving Ireland, Canada and the West Indies.

Host Jamaica, who got the festival off with a three-day match against the Irish at Chedwin Park, will engage both overseas participants inside eight days -- playing two 50-over games and a pair of Twenty20 encounters.

In terms of its competitiveness, the festival is likely to benefit the West Indies and Ireland, as both teams prepare for the ICC World Twenty20, which bowls off here in the Caribbean on April 30.

But what's the real benefit for Jamaica, particularly at the back end of the season?

Chairman of selectors, Nehemiah Perry, in an interview with the Observer on Saturday's opening day of the three-day game against the Irish, says there is a lot to gain.

"We want to look at some young players who we want to try and blood into the senior programme... like Akeem Dewar who is making his debut and Horace Miller, this is his second game playing for Jamaica.

"So we are trying to strike a balance... to have some of the senior players rub shoulders with the youngsters by passing on some of their experience and let them have a feel of what it's all about at a higher standard," he said.

Miller and Dewar are joined by national Under-19 players Kemar Marshall and Jermaine Blackwood, while former youth prodigies Nkrumah Bonner, 21, and John-Ross Campbell, 20, are also included in the 18-man squad.

As for the seniors though, Perry noted it is important that they maintain their match readiness, as the upcoming home series against South Africa and a tentative regional twenty20 championship will offer opportunities for many individuals.

"We don't want to stop and start all over again. It's good to play cricket right throughout the year; they're professionals, they're young, they're fit... it's a momentum that Jamaica have and we want to move forward," he said. "There's a lot of cricket and I'm sure the players want to impress and force their way into the West Indies squad," he added.

Jamaica won their third consecutive regional first-class title this season but have found the 50-over version elusive in recent times.

But the chief selector believes the festival comes at an opportune time for the team as their foreign counterparts will pose tougher challenges that will enable the selection committee to make a better assessment.

"We appreciate the festival; it's a good thing and we want to cap it off with the champions playing against Canada and Ireland who are very good professionals," he said.

"You would want to see them do the basic things right by applying themselves well."

Perry, a former West Indies player continued, said: "We want to see if players can come through... a lot of times people think that it's your technique or ability that don't make you go on and become a better player.

"But it's all about how well you can think for yourself when out there in the middle. And that is why I'm bringing in some youngster from now, because not everyday we're going to have the Odean Browns and the Tamar Lamberts. One day they're going to stop play."

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Perry looks to blood youngsters during festival