Eddie Norfolk
The reality of the “Rise with the Red” idea at Under-19 level requires, short term, floating and swimming in the current Cricket West Indies Under-19 50-over tournament in St Kitts in my opinion. Progress in this tournament may well involve some flapping of arms and legs to remain above the waterline, a certain amount of smooth floating and swimming to differing standards.
Now Canada U19 is competing against the six regional teams of the West Indies, which is not a specific nation, but is the current ICC Under-19 champions. Cricket West Indies is keen to do well in the next ICC Cricket World Cup and the West Indies Under-19 squad won Youth ODI series in July 2017 against South Africa (3 games to 2) and Zimbabwe (2/1).
The July tour meant some of the cream of West Indies talent missed most or all of the Cricket West Indies Under-19 tournament. Some of the players who took part in the 3-day games and some selectors may think they should be in the cream for the 2018 U19 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Today (Thursday, August 17, 2017) Canada U19s play a Jamaica U19 team that was second to Guyana in the 3-day tournament but was well beaten by the Windward Islands in the opening game of the 50-over tournament on Tuesday. Jamaica U19’s top-scorer was Jeavor Royal, who had been on the West Indies U19 tour and played an important innings in the lower middle order to bring victory in one of the youth tests against South Africa U19s.
Windwards U19s made quick inroads into the Jamaica U19s who were 30/4 in the 10th over and ended on 140. Shermill Lewis, a seamer who was not on the Windies U19 tour, took 4/20. Windwards U19 captain, Emmanuel Stewart, was the West Indies U19 tour captain and hit 76* in leading the Windwards to a 7 wicket success.
So there are likely to be several Jamaican players who want to do well or better with bat, ball and in the field against Canada today. It’s not difficult to guess from a distance that the coach and support staff of the Jamaican squad will have provided some advice and done a bit of mental pushing of the players since Tuesday’s loss.
Canada’s players, having gained experience from the opening game against Guyana, will also be aiming to build on that experience against Jamaica. Could some Canadian pace/spin upset the Jamaican batting today?
Well almost anything can happen in one-day cricket. So best wishes to the Canadian juniors for today’s game. No point in thinking today about what the Windwards might be capable of achieving or what some other future opponents in this CWI tournament may or may not do on the day.
Canada at the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup
The ICC released the groups and schedules for the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand earlier today. The schedules include some warm-up games.
Canada Under-19s will play in Group C against Bangladesh (January 15, 2018), Namibia (January 17, 2018) and England (January 20, 2018) after warm-up games against Kenya (January 9, 2018) and Ireland (January 11, 2018).
Canada’s two warm-up games are to be played in Christchurch. The games against Bangladesh and Namibia are being played in Lincoln and the game against England is in Queenstown.
Namibia qualified for the 2018 U19 World Cup as the highest placed ICC Associate/Affiliate nation at the 2016 U19 World Cup.
What happens after the U19 World Cup Group matches can wait for another day. The schedule sits on the ICC’s website and today’s media release will be on the ICC website.
Meanwhile I am supposed to be taking care of a range of non-cricket priorities and needs, which are, in part, why I am not in St Kitts watching Canada U19s or even taking a look at upcoming opposition for the CWI U19 50-over tournament.