Captain Kraigg Brathwaite strongly believes the West Indies can win the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, which bowls off in Queensland, Australia on Saturday.
West Indies, seeded at No.3, and two-time former champions India, who are ranked No.6, are odds-on favourites to qualify for the Super League stage from their preliminary Group 3, which also includes Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea.
The West Indies’ only appearance in a Super League final was in 2004 when they lost to Pakistan in Bangladesh. However, they have lost four times in the semi-finals – twice to Pakistan in 1988 and 2010; and once to Australia and England in 2002 and 2004 respectively.
In 2006, the Young Windies also lost to India in the quarter-final before winning the Plate Championship in 2008 in Malaysia.
Whereas Brathwaite has the experience of playing in nine Tests, three other players – Ronsford Beaton, Kavem Hodge and Amir Khan – have also played first-class cricket.
Brathwaite and fellow opener John Campbell also played in the previous World Cup in New Zealand.
“We expect to play good cricket and if we do we expect to advance to the second round and beyond. But we will not underestimate the opponents. Cricket is a great game and you have to be at your best at all times, no matter who you play against. We have to go out there and play every game hard,” Brathwaite said.
The solid Barbadian right-handed batsman said he reckons the Windies will be able to break their title drought.
“I believe we can win this tournament. We just need to believe in ourselves, go out there, play as a team to our full potential, and I know we will win.
“We have good players in all departments. We have an experienced batting line-up and a solid group of fast bowlers. We also have some very good all-rounders who we can move up and down the order, according to the state of the match,” reasoned Brathwaite.
He said the preparation of the team, which includes four other Barbadians in batsman Anthony Alleyne, fast bowler Jerome Jones and allrounders Justin Greaves and Kyle Mayers, has been excellent.
“We had tours to Dubai, Florida and India last year and also had two one-week camps in Barbados earlier in the year. We also had a two-week camp in Australia before the World Cup. I believe the squad is really confident, highly motivated and really looking forward to playing some good cricket and bringing the World Cup home for the first time,” he said.
SQUAD: West Indies – Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Sunil Ambris, Ronsford Beaton, John Campbell, Derone Davis, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Akeal Hosein, Jerome Jones, Keiron Joseph, Steven Katwaroo, Amir Khan, Kyle Mayers and Marquino Mindley. (EZS)
