ST JOHN’S – Fresh from the Under-17 Regional Title, Trinidad and Tobago are ready to defend their title in the Under-19 three-day tournament, set to start in St Kitts next Monday.
Guyana will also defend their 50-over title, with that format beginning on August 15.
The three-day competition will have the teams from the six territories, while in the 50-over competition, the ICC Americas will field a team for a group of seven tournament.
Four venues will be used over the next six weeks by host country St Kitts. The three-day format of this tournament will see the addition of two rounds for a total of five.
Following the Windies win in the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh last year, the team is gearing up for the World Cup Championships in New Zealand next year.
Rawl Lewis, the officer in charge of youth development at Cricket West Indies notes this tournament as an important part of the calendar of events.
“The Under-19 tournament is an integral part of the development of cricket in the West Indies. It is the final stage before first class cricket and many of our top players hone their skills here.”
Fast-bowler Alzarri Joseph, one of the young and upcoming players on the Windies senior team is a prime example of this.
Shimron Hetmeyer, former captain of the Under-19 team who secured the championship trophy last year, has also featured at the top of the order for the Windies test team as of late.
Dennis Phillip, president of the St Kitts Cricket Association, says that preparations are well underway and venues will be ready for final inspection on Saturday.
Final rounds of meetings with event staff will be completed by Friday afternoon.
“As with everything, there are one or two kinks to be worked out, but we will be fully prepared on Monday,” he said.
Match Schedule
Three-Day
Round 1 July 24-26
Trinidad & Tobago v Windward Islands-Conaree
Leeward Islands v Guyana-Verchilds
Barbados v Jamaica -St Pauls
Round 2 July 28-30
Guyana v Trinidad & Tobago -St Pauls
Jamaica v Windward Islands-Verchilds
Leeward Islands v Barbados -Molineux
Round 3 August 01-03
Trinidad & Tobago v Jamaica -Molineux
Guyana v Barbados -Verchilds
Leeward Islands v Windward Islands –St Pauls
Round 4 August 06-08
Barbados v Trinidad & Tobago-Molineux
Leeward Islands v Jamaica -Warner Park
Windward Islands v Guyana –St Pauls
Round 5 August 10-12
Leeward Islands v Trinidad & Tobago -Verchilds
Barbados v Windward Islands -St Pauls
Jamaica v Guyana -Conaree
One-Day
Round 1 August 15
ICC Americas v Guyana –Verchilds
Leeward Islands v Trinidad & Tobago -Molineux
Windward Islands v Jamaica -Conaree
Round 2 August 17
Barbados v Trinidad & Tobago -Conaree
Jamaica v ICC Americas -St Pauls
Leeward Islands v Windward Islands -Molineux
Round 3 August 19
Guyana v Jamaica -Molineux
Windward Islands v Barbados -Verchilds
Leeward Islands v ICC Americas -Conaree
Round 4 August 22
Windward Islands v Trinidad & Tobago -Molineux
Leeward Islands v Guyana –St Pauls
ICC Americas v Barbados -Conaree
Round 5 August 24
Leeward Islands v Jamaica -Verchilds
Trinidad & Tobago v ICC Americas -Molineux
Barbados v Guyana -Conaree
Round 6 August 26
ICC Americas v Windward Islands -Molineux
Jamaica v Barbados -Warner Park
Guyana v Trinidad & Tobago-Conaree
Round 7 August 28
Leeward Islands v Barbados -Conaree
Windward Islands v Guyana -Warner Park
Trinidad & Tobago v Jamaica -Molineux
