CUL DE SAC—Cricket St. Maarten is sending a strong team filled with a mixture of youth and experience to the Leeward Islands 3-day tournament in St. Kitts. Kenroy David (Captain) leads a group of experience players in Colin Hamer, Sherwin Peters, Akeem Charles, Daniel Doram, Daryl Doram and Mrinal Wadhwa. All these players have played 3-day cricket at the senior level in the Leeward Islands. Four youngsters who featured in the victorious Leeward Islands U19 team in Nathan Edward, Michael Palmer, Chemequiko Landefort and Amarius Harris have now leaped into the senior team. Other youngsters selected for national duties are Kyshawn Charles, Samuel Morton and Tyanick Honore. Gregorio Ritchie could be considered an experienced player because of his many years around the cricket circuit but he is only now playing his first 3-day tournament for St. Maarten.
All the members of the team were engaged in the 2-day practice matches over the last three weekends, and although some were challenged by the longer format of the match, by the third match the batsmen, especially were spending productive time at the crease.
Look out for the young Leeward Islands U19 players who are expected to extend their push to become a household name in the Leeward Islands and further across the region. Additionally, quite a few spectators have identified Honore as a force to reckon with because of his ball striking ability during the practice matches. He is also playing a new role as the wicketkeeper in the team. This new role was handed to him because regular wicketkeeper Dameon Williams is unable to travel because of personal reasons but also because Honore is agile and a very good catcher.
The team travels to St. Kitts this morning. The first 3-day match will begin on Sunday at the Warner Park Stadium in St. Kitts against the home team. St. Maarten will then travel over to Nevis start the second match on February 23. The final match for St. Maarten is against Anguilla at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark. The coach is Parsram Singh and manager Charissa M. Gumbs.
To make this tournament possible, Cricket St. Maarten had to viciously seek financial assistance from the St. Maarten Government and the private sector. The board also conducted a fundraising breakfast and lunch last Saturday. The board extends thanks to everyone who assisted the team.
