ANDRE Coley, assistant coach of Jamaica Tallawahs, is expressing optimism about the team’s chances in this season’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as he feels a number of key players are coming of age.

“I believe we are almost there, in terms of our final preparation and so on. Obviously, some of those players have announced themselves at previous tournaments and have done well,” he said on the eve of the inaugural 6IXTY competition which is a prelude to the established CPL Twenty20.

“Captain Rovman Powell, [Brandon] King, Fabian Allen, Kennar Lewis, Shamarh Brooks… and there are a few more, including West Indies players… complemented by the overseas players we have coming in.

“I think it’s an exciting time for the franchise, in terms of transitioning… these players are really looking forward to the new challenge of being in a new franchise and playing different roles,” Coley, the recently appointed West Indies A team head coach, told the Jamaica Observer.

The Tallawahs won the inaugural CPL in 2013, and added another title in 2016, but, for the most part, have been way off the pace in recent seasons.

In addition, the Jamaica-based franchise lost star all-rounder Andre Russell who, entering this season, made the switch to Trinbago Knight Riders.

The 29-year-old Powell, speaking during a pre-tournament press conference, conceded his fellow Jamaican Russell is virtually irreplaceable, but pointed out that the situation creates the opportunity for more focus on the team as a collective.

“Extremely big loss. I don’t think any cricketer in the Caribbean can replace Russell,” he said.

“So what we’re trying to do is not to fill the void by Andre, but to just build an impenetrable unit, where each guy supports [the other]. And hopefully, that will get the job done for us, instead of just relying on one or two persons,” Powell explained.

He also welcomes the Jamaicans in the team, including the all-rounder Allen, who played several fruitful seasons for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, and returning batsman King, who had a successful spell with Guyana Amazon Warriors.

“When I took over as captain that was always my dream, to bring back a few more Jamaicans into the set-up because I think the talent is in Jamaica. It’s just for us to build together as a team,” Powell said.

Meanwhile, Coley, who previously had stints with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and the St Lucia-based franchise — now named St Lucia Kings — is eager to work alongside West Indies former great players Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who is the Tallawahs head coach, and Sir Curtly Ambrose, who is serving as an assistant.

“The last time I was involved in the CPL was somewhere about 2017 to 2018. I’m looking forward to working with Shiv and Sir Curtly. We’re really looking forward to kick off the tournament with the 6IXTY and then transition into the T20,” Coley told the Observer.

Powell noted the experience and quality within the Tallawahs’ coaching set-up.

“This is a team that has a lot of cricket knowledge behind it, so hopefully with that knowledge, you can see it out on the field,” said the captain.

The Tallawahs began their 6IXTY campaign on a winning note, brushing aside the Patriots by 55 runs at Warner Park in St Kitts on Thursday.

— Sanjay Myers