Planning and sound execution are the components that will reap success for the Barbados Under-19 Men’s cricket team in Thursday’s final of the West Indies Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s Championship.
This is according to head coach and former West Indies opener Sherwin Campbell, who is looking for a repeat triumph for the defending champions.
Having won six of their seven matches, the young Bajans seek revenge against the unbeaten USA-1 at Conaree Sports Club following their 216-run thrashing at the hands of the Americans in round five on July 15.
Despite the lone humiliating defeat, which saw Barbados, chasing 306, bowled out for 89 in 25.5 overs, coach Campbell and his camp are full of confidence.
“We have to plan and execute well. We are still confident within the camp that we can win once we tick all of our boxes, but we must turn up to a hard game of cricket,” he said, noting the strengths of the USA-1 outfit.
“They seem to be well organised in the batting department, with the top four scoring the majority of the runs throughout the tournament. Their spinners then come into play in the middle overs on these dry pitches, which makes them effective,” said Campbell, speaking on the surfaces in the host country St Kitts and Nevis.
A Barbados and West Indies cricketer of 52 Tests and 90 One-Day Internationals, Campbell acknowledged the progress of the sport in the USA.
“I heard they have academies all over the US. That’s lacking in the Caribbean. They might have a good structure in place, so eventually they might pass us,” he said, agreeing that their cricket seems to be ‘catching up’ with the product on show in the Caribbean, while also making mention of a US team, New York Tri-State Youth Development, recently capturing the Sir Garfield Sobers International Under-19 Cricket Tournament.
With the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup slated for early 2026, the ongoing tournament is also a preparatory and selection campaign for players who will represent the West Indies at the global showpiece in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Along with skipper Joshua Dorne, who was a member of the 2024 World Cup team in South Africa, Campbell has identified fast bowler R’Jai Gittens, left-arm quick Jakeem Pollard, seam all-rounder Shaquan Belle, and opening pair Zachary Carter and Micah Greenidge as candidates for inclusion.
He noted off-spinner Xaundre Baptiste and wicketkeeper-batsman Gadson Bowens as outside chances to make the squad.
Barbadians have put in strong individual performances, with Carter’s 290 runs and Gittens’ 14 wickets leading the statistical tables.
Carter has hit three half-centuries – 62 against Guyana, 78 versus Trinidad and Tobago, and 79 against USA-2.
Gittens has taken two four-wicket hauls – four for 25 against Guyana, and four for 63 against Trinidad and Tobago.
These figures were followed by two for 20 versus Jamaica, one for 23 against Windwards, and three for 21 versus USA-2.
However, his sole wicketless outing came against Thursday’s final opponents USA-1, against whom he has the opportunity to emerge as the standalone top wicket-taker, ahead of Jamaica’s leg-spinner Vitel Laws.
Belle took five for 53 against the unbeaten American A side and will seek to replicate that form on Thursday.
Captain Dorne has also hit three fifties – 63, 79, and 51 – along with a 42 not out. However, no Barbadian has hit a century in the tourney, which has seen five centuries.
Jamaica and Windward Islands contest the third-place game at St Mary’s Park, Cayon, while Guyana face Trinidad and Tobago at St Paul’s Sports Complex for fifth place, as Leeward Islands clash with USA-2 for the seventh position.
