U-19s on track for World Cup
Bermuda’s Under-19 national cricket team will be among the pre-tournament favourites at this summer’s Americas Championship in Toronto.
In recent years the Island’s youngsters have been knocking on the door to Under-19 World Cup qualification, only to come up short in their bid.
But with a promising all-round team bolstered by senior national team bowlers Malachi Jones and Stefan Kelly, Bermuda coach Andre Manders is confident the Island’s representatives — currently training three times weekly — have what it takes to finally get over the final hurdle and qualify for next year’s Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia.
“I think we have a good all-round team, and the coaching staff are very happy with the way preparations have gone so far. Attendance at training has been very good considering some of our players are still playing football at the moment,” Manders said.
Bermuda’s youngsters will compete against Americas rivals Argentina, Cayman Island and Argentina as well as hosts Canada in Toronto from August 11 to the 18. And with defending champions USA having been banned from competing in the tournament, Manders views hosts Canada as possibly the Island’s biggest challenge.
“With the USA out of the tournament I expect Canada to be our biggest challenge, although you really can’t underestimate any of the other teams competing,” Manders added.
Earlier this year the International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed tough sanctions against the USA and banned them from competing at all levels of international cricket for failing to establish a legitimate national body.
Although yet to receive approval from the clubs, Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) have drawn up a nine-game schedule which will see the Under-19 national squad compete in the Premier Division.
“The schedule is out and everything has been confirmed. But obviously not everyone can play on any given Sunday. And so those players who are not chosen to play that particular weekend will be allowed to play for their club teams. And we do intend to switch the teams around to give everyone a chance to play. So either way all of the players will be able to play,” Manders explained.
There are presently 24 players registered on the team, 13 of whom will be chosen to suit up on weekends for the Under 19s who will play some of their fixtures at the National Sports Centre (NSC).
In addition to senior World Cup members Jones and Kelly, all-rounders Kyle Hodsoll, Rodney Trott and Dennico Hollis will also carry Bermuda’s hopes in Toronto this summer.
Budding seamers Jordan DeSilva and Kieron Trott continue to come on in leaps and bounds with the new ball, while the enthusiastic Hollis is steadily rounding into a good all-round cricketer.
The squad also possesses a varied spin attack in Tre Govia, Tamuri Tucker, Jade Foggo and Trott who debuted in Cup Match last summer and has also accompanied the senior national team on tour in the past.
Manders said batsmen such as Terryn Fray, Chris Douglas and Maurico Bassett would be expected to lead from the front, along with the likes of Trott and Jones who are also capable of swinging the bat.
However, Manders admitted that the services of all-rounder Jahron Dickinson — injured in a cycle crash last month — will be missed, while the status of team skipper Oronde Bascome remains up in the air (see story below).
“I think Jahron could be out for a whole year. And so he is also going to be a big miss to the team. And as far as Oronde is concerned I don’t really know what the situation is with him at the moment,” Manders said.
The Island’s youngsters will first see action at July’s Sir Gary Sobers Tournament in Barbados, a competition the team’s coaching staff intend to use as a warm-up ahead of August’s commitment in Toronto.
