THE national Under-15 cricket team is scheduled to depart the island today and manager Richard Walters says the aim is to dethrone home team and reigning champions Trinidad & Tobago of their regional title.

According to Walters, despite being short on pre-tournament practice and regional experience, the squad is well-positioned to do well in the twin-island republic.

“We are less experienced than on other occasions but I expect these youngsters to give a good account of themselves. We have one player returning, captain Ramaal Lewis, but we have a good bunch and they should do well.

“The weather affected preparation and the fact that the tournament was switched from the usual Easter break has also been a challenge. We have had issues with youngsters sitting exams this time of the year. I think we have made the best of the situation,” said Walters during yesterday’s sending-off reception for the players at Sabina Park.

Coached by Terrence Corke, the Jamaicans took consecutive titles in 2008 and 2009, before being nudged into second place by Trinidad & Tobago last year. On that occasion, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and Guyana were locked on equal number of points and had to be separated by net run-rate.

Chairman of the national under-15 selection panel Baron Watson says the team is a balanced one and is expecting a strong performance from the young cricketers.

“The coach, Terrence Corke, spent the last three weeks preparing them and you can see that they are very upbeat. Traditionally Jamaica tend to do well in the Under-15 tournament and we don’t expect anything different this year,” Watson said.

Squad — captain Ramaal Lewis (STETHS), Romaine Morris (STETHS), Odain McCatty (STETHS), Hakeem Wright (Manchester High), Nicholas Walters (Manchester High), Malcolm Whyte (Wolmer’s Boys), Christopher Tufton (Wolmer’s Boys), Michael Hurst (Charlement High), Jermarje Harris (Charlemont High), Leroy St. Aubin Lugg (Holmwood Tech), Carl Reid (St Thomas Tech), Ryan Scott (Garvey Maceo High), Abhijai Mansingh (Campion College), Mark Parchment (Munro College) Coach- Terrence Corke

Manager- Richard Walters.