Barbados will head into next month’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-17 Rising Stars tournaments in Trinidad and Tobago with high expectations, as they look to retain their titles in both the two-day and 50-Over formats.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Gadson Bowens, a student of The Lodge School, will lead the 14-member squad named by the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) for the August 10 to September 2 event.
Combermere has strong representation, with four players selected: R’Jai Gittens, Jahidi Hinds, Justin Parris, and Javed Worrell.
Jordan Graham, currently based at Sherborne School in England, adds international exposure to the squad, while players like Kelani Clarke (St Leonard’s), Rajeev Parsooram (Deighton Griffith), and Raphael Lovell (Queen’s College) have all stood out at the domestic level.
All-rounder Damarko Wiggins joins his Lodge School teammate Bowens in the squad, while Jakeem Pollard of Princess Margaret, Izaiyah Goodman (Alexandra), Zarell Harding (Coleridge & Parry), and Kemar Dixon (Carlton) round out the main 14.
The team will be under the guidance of experienced coach Dexter Toppin, assisted by Nhamo Winn. Dwayne Best will manage the squad, with Janae Lewis serving as physiotherapist.
Seven reserves have also been named in the event of injuries or withdrawals. Among them are Asher Branford and Reynaldo Bourne of Christ Church Foundation, Akobi Crichlow-Byer of Ellerslie/Windward, and Taj Clarke, who attends school in Scarborough, England.
With Barbados recently securing regional titles at the Under-15 and Under-19 levels, the Under-17s will be aiming to complete a youth cricket sweep in what has been a standout year for local development programmes.
(RW)
Squad: Gadson Bowens (captain, Lodge School), Kelani Clarke (St. Leonard’s), Kemar Dixon (Carlton), R’Jai Gittens (Combermere), Izaiyah Goodman (Alexandra), Jordan Graham (Sherborne School), Zarell Harding (Coleridge & Parry), Jahidi Hinds (Combermere), Raphael Lovell (Queen’s College), Justin Parris (Combermere), Rajeev Parsooram (Deighton Griffith), Jakeem Pollard (Princess Margaret), Damarko Wiggins (Lodge School), Javed Worrell (Combermere)
Reserves: Asher Branford (Christ Church Foundation), Reynaldo Bourne (Christ Church Foundation), Akobi Crichlow-Byer (Ellerslie/Windward), Seth Smith (Queen’s College), Shaylun Wood (Harrison College), Taj Clarke (Scarborough College), Trevan Carrington (Alleyne School)
Management Team: Dexter Toppin (Head Coach), Nhamo Winn (Assistant Coach), Dwayne Best (Manager), Janae Lewis (Physiotherapist)
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