J’can cricketers seek glory in shorter version of the game
Jamaica’s team manager Fritz Harris says winning the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Super50 Tournament is important if the country is to be recognised as a major force in the shorter versions of the game.
The contingent, minus a physical trainer, departed Sabina Park yesterday en route to Guyana, where they will take part in the October 19-29 competition.
The country has not won the 50-overs title since the 2007-08 season, but Harris is optimistic the current four-day champions can add another trophy to the cabinet, and by doing so, provide a fillip for the plans of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA).
“It is important (to do well) because we haven’t won this competition in a while and we need to re-establish ourselves as worthy competitors in the limited-overs versions. People are wondering if we cant manage the shorter versions of the game.
“We (at the JCA) harbour thoughts and have been putting down plans for the shorter Twenty20 (T20) version so winning this competition would certainly go a far way,” he said yesterday.
Barbados and the Leeward Islands are joint reigning champions after a nail-biting tie in last year’s final at Sabina Park.
Jamaica were eliminated by Barbados after a disappointing display in the semi-final.
Said Harris: “There are some known reasons why we haven’t excelled in the shorter versions and as a Board we are trying to adjust those. It speaks to the resolve of the administration and the players to win this tournament. It is fundamental to our plans that we do more than just put in a good showing; we want to win.”
Harris, who is also secretary of the local body, explained that traditionally more emphasis has always been placed on the two-day version at the club and parish level and that has led to inadequate attention being paid to the potentially lucrative T20 and 50-overs format.
“In the past we have sometimes been affected by our level of preparation. We have a bias towards the longer version in the way we structure our programmes and it is something we are trying to address. We need to create a balance between the different competitions and look at how selectors pick the various squads because not all players do well in all the versions,” he said.
The team is coached by Junior Bennett.
