BRIDGETOWN, Barbados CMC – Regional players will be looking to follow up the enormous success of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament with an equally compelling Regional four-day tournament which opens today. The CT20 with its fast-paced action attracted large crowds last month to the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua and the Kensington Oval in Barbados – and regional officials will be hoping that the players can lift their standards to draw similar attendances to the longer format.
In the opening round, reigning four-time champions Jamaica face Windward Islands at Sabina Park in Jamaica, Combined Campuses and Colleges play newly-crowned CT20 champions Trinidad and Tobago at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados, and Guyana meet Leeward Islands at Windsor Park in Dominica.
In Kingston, the absence of West Indies captain Darren Sammy for Windwards has overshadowed the start of Jamaica’s defence of the title for a fourth straight year.
Sammy did not travel to the Jamaica capital with the sub-regional side and coach Ian Allen said he was being rested at the request of West Indies Cricket Board officials, concerned about his workload ahead of a taxing schedule in the coming months.
There have been many theories about Sammy’s absence and discarded West Indies opener Chris Gayle tweeted about his disappointment that the West Indies captain was unavailable.
Gayle tweeted: “It’s a shame the W.I. captain @darrensammy88 CHICKEN out!! Was looking forward to the matchup just like in the nets! Sad.com.”
Windwards officials are not too concerned about Sammy’s absence. They believe they still have enough resources in their squad to make life difficult for the Jamaicans.
Since the start of the new millennium, Jamaica have only lost twice on home soil against the Windwards, so they will start as overwhelming favourites.
Gayle will be the headline act, looking to post a monumental score to send a strong message to the WICB with his continued exile from the West Indies team, but others like Brendan Nash, Brenton Parchment, Donovan Pagon and Andrew Richardson also have some personal demons to dismiss.
Bowling again could be the Windwards’ strength, but it is their batting which has consistently let them down over the year, so players like Devon Smith and Andre Fletcher, in particular, will have to step up to help them punch above their weight.
In Roseau, the embattled Guyanese will be looking to overcome the brouhaha over the running of the game at home and look to start the tournament strongly against the Leewards.
These two sides have languished near the bottom of the table in recent years and they will be looking to reverse their fortunes.
Guyana have dominated this fixture since the turn of the century, winning six of the 15 matches the two sides have contested, with the Leewards managing a 10-run victory three years ago in Nevis and have only led the Guyanese once in the four drawn matches they have played since 2000.
Recalls for Sewnarine Chattergoon and fellow left-hander Narsingh Deonarine hardly makes up for the absence of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan due to various reasons, but the two left-handers give the batting a stiffer look than last year, when a number of young players were tried and they failed miserably.
Leewards too, have included two seasoned players who add a bit more depth to their batting with opener Shane Jeffers and all-rounder Tonito Willett coming back after missing recent assignments.
In Cave Hill, a keen contest is expected between CCC and T&T in a match to be contested under the lights and with a pink ball.
CCC finished runners-up to Jamaica last year, when their batting collapsed twice in the horror show that was the Final at the same venue.
They will be hoping the strides they made last year to finish the round robin in top place will rub off on this year’s crop and inspire them to reach for greater heights.
T&T will be energised by their recent CT20 triumph, but the venue has not been a happy hunting ground for them.
There is not much to separate the two sides over the last four seasons with each winning two of the five matches they have played.
T&T have a load of weapons this time with all of their international stars, barring injured fast-medium bowler Ravi Rampaul, present.
CCC’s fast bowling attack looked well served with the Jamaican Jason Dawes, as well as Barbadians Kevin McClean and Jason Holder to support the slow bowling attack that comprises off-spinner Ryan Austin, left-arm spinner Yannick Ottley, as well as leg-spinners Akeem Dewar and all-rounder Nkrumah Bonner.