GUARDIAN GENERAL BARBADOS YOUTH
Position last year: Ninth
Home ground: Various grounds, including Lester Vaughan and Harrison College
Captain: Jameel Stuart
Coach: Livy Puckerin
Manager: Livy Coppin
In: Shane Proverbs (Combermere), Jofra Archer (Foundation)
Out: Justin Greaves (likely attachment in England), Craig St Hill (Pickwick, attachment in England), Chaim Holder (Spartan), Shayne Moseley (Carlton), Dario Boyce (BDFSP), Neil Persaud (attachment in England)
OVERVIEW: Barbados Youth are exempted from demotion and their focus is traditionally on the development of players, but they will still want to show they can be competitive.
There was a period when Barbados Youth finished in the top half of the table for a few seasons, but it hasn’t happened of late.
It will be a challenge to get back there this year against the background that there is the usual departure of several players who have graduated from secondary schools.
Their two century-makers of last season, Justin Greaves and Craig St Hill, are no longer eligible and are headed to England on attachments, but Barbados Youth will feature several players who showed promise last year.
Among them are new captain Jameel Stuart, fellow batsman Jonathan Drakes, who scored a century in 2011, wicketkeeper/batsmen Carlos Maynard and Tevyn Walcott, along with fast bowlers Jerome Jones and Akeem Jordan.
One of the problems Barbados Youth always face is being forced to field a second string team owing to the unavailability of their leading players during the regional championships.
EXPECTATIONS:
Dexter Toppin (chairman of selectors): “We’re looking to improve this year. We didn’t do as well as we wanted to do last year. We’ve lost a few players, but I don’t think that will stop us from doing well.
“A lot of the players are looking to make the Barbados team for the regional Under-19 competition. That should motivate the players. Our bowling looks good. We have three promising fast bowlers and I’m hoping the see some improvement in the batting.”
PREDICTION: Bottom three. The progress of individual players is more important than team results for Barbados Youth.
