'Picnic' to lead Under-19s in crucial summer campaign
Rodney Trott is one of those cricketers who seem to thrive most under pressure.
So with Bermuda Under-19s bracing themselves for the big challenge of qualifying for next year’s Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, it came as no real surprise when Trott was given the nod to lead the Island’s quest.
It wasn’t that long ago that Trott showed glimpses of perhaps even bigger and better things to come when he led the Island’s Under-15 Americas Championship in Florida.
Since that achievement Trott has toured overseas with the Island’s senior national team, has broken into St.George’s Cup Match team and continues to make considerable strides in the local cricket scene.
Yet while the teenaged prodigy obviously takes delight in some of the things he has achieved in the sport in a relatively short period of time, nothing, he stressed, would please him more than leading Bermuda to 2008 Under-19 World Cup qualification in Toronto next month.
“I think something very special is going to happen to us. The guys are very focused and although this might not be one of the strongest teams, everyone understands their role and what is expected of them from the coaching staff,” the St.George’s all-rounder said.
The 14-man squad depart for Barbados tomorrow where they will again compete at the Sir Gary Sobers International Schools Tournament against some of the best prospects the Caribbean has to offer.
After debuting in the tournament — played in honour of the legendary West Indies all-rounder — in 2005, Bermuda’s youngsters did themselves proud last year in placing second in their age bracket.
So it’s only natural for Trott and his fellow team-mates to travel to the Caribbean eager to improve upon their last performance.
“My experiences so far in Barbados have been very good. The wickets down there are very good and I think if we can put the ball in the right spots and keep focussed at the crease when we bat we will be alright,” Trott said.
“I really think that something special is going to happen to us in Barbados that will also spill over to Toronto (World Cup qualifiers).”
On paper the team is about as good as it gets, with the likes of World Cup veterans Malachi Jones and Stefan Kelly also included in the bunch — though the latter won’t be accompanying the team to Barbados tomorrow.
Trott’s St.George’s team-mate, leg spinner Tre Govia, has also been ruled out of the Barbados tour because of a groin injury.
However, the unavailability of both Kelly and Govia has opened the door for young Somerset all-rounder Greg Maybury — who is creating a big buzz around the West End these days — to try and impress the selectors when he joins the team later in the Caribbean following commitments with the Island’s Under-15 national team.
Maybury — who could break into Somerset’s Cup Match XI this year — is the grandson of former Somerset star batsman Kenny Maybury and nephew of former Somerset Cup Match skipper Perry Maybury, who was a member of Bermuda victorious 1979 International Youth Tournament (IYT) squad that grabbed glory in Toronto under the captaincy of Charlie Marshall.
So far, Trott says “preparation has been key for the team” — who have held their own competing in the Premier Division this season in preparation for this summer’s international commitments.
“I honestly think we can win our group because the first two years we competed in Barbados our downfall was losing the first couple of games,” he said.
“But with us now used to playing with one another this season in the Premier Division I think we are going to be more prepared and very competitive from game one.
“I think we have a very balanced team and once the guys get focussed we should be ready to tune in.”
Others expected to carry the Island’s hopes abroad are specialist batsman like of Terryn Fray and Chris Douglas as well as seamers Kyle Hodsoll, Dennico Hollis, Kearon Trott and Jordan DeSilva.
And while assistant coach Arnold Manders acknowledges the importance of obtaining favourable results, winning, he declared, will not be the main priority in the Caribbean.
“Obviously our main focus is to try and qualify for the World Cup. So we are very much looking forward to using the Sir Gary Sobers Tournament as a booster for the World Cup qualifiers in Toronto,” the former national team and Western Stars skipper said.
“We are looking forward to getting as many matches as we possibly can under our belt before we try and qualify for the World Cup.”
As for Trott’s appointment as team skipper, Manders noted: “It was a difficult decision to make. But Rodney has the ability to assess and reassess game situations very quickly. And I think Rodney and Malachi (vice-captain Malachi Jones) work extremely well together.”
