JACOBS DEFENDS LEEWARDS DRAFT SELECTIONS
published by ikhan on Wed, 10/08/2014 - 04:24
Antigua Observer article.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Chairman of Selectors for the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) Lawrence Carty of Anguilla, said the sub-regional board went into the WICB’s inaugural player draft in Barbados on Monday, hoping to snatch former West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan.
Despite being second in line however, Leeward Islands opted for spinner Anthony “I-Roots†Martin and pacer Gavin Tonge as their first and second picks.
Sarwan was grabbed by Trinidad & Tobago’s Red Force in the second round of the draft.
Lawrence, speaking on the Good Morning JoJo Sports Show yesterday, said Sarwan would have brought some stability to the team’s middle order, but hinted there were some concerns over his fitness.
“Unfortunately, when we went down the list, actually we came up with one player that would have helped the Leeward in terms of filing the middle order and working along with the inexperienced players, because you know Leeward Islands have been going through a patch for a couple of years in terms of the batting, and that person would have also been able to help build around the nucleus of the young players and that player had some problems; it was Ramnaresh Sarwan,†he said.
The other players selected to the Leeward Islands franchise are Quinton Boatswain, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Yannick Leonard, Steve Liburd, Jeremiah Louis, Kieran Powell, Devon Thomas, Hayden Walsh, Kelbert Walters, Rahkeem Cornwall, Jacques Taylor and Lyndel Richardson.
Selection, according to Lawrence, does not guarantee franchise players a spot on the final team.
