Selectors groom Sunil Ambris for higher calling

The decision by senior selectors to appoint Sunil Ambris as the St Vincent and the Grenadines senior cricket team’s captain for the upcoming Windward Islands two-day tournament in Grenada is seen as a grooming process.

At age 23, Ambris is reported as the youngest player to lead a St Vincent and the Grenadines senior cricket outfit.

He followed his elder brother Romel Currency, who has the distinction of captaining St Vincent and the Grenadines at the Under-15, Under-19 and senior levels.{{more}}

The right-handed Ambris takes over from former captain Lindon James, who like Currency, has taken a sabbatical.

Ambris, who plays for local team Guardian General Saints, will be the direct replacement in both aspects for James, as he will also don the gloves behind the wickets.

A former St Vincent and the Grenadines, Windwards and West Indies Under-15 and Under-19 player, Ambris gained selection to the senior Windwards team in the four-day regional tournament in 2014, scoring a century on debut against Guyana, and went on to score another in the final against Jamaica.

His debut season earned him a tour to Sri Lanka that same year with the West Indies A team and followed up on his other selections to the UWI Vice-Chancellor’s team, the Combined Campuses and Colleges in the regional 20/20 competition, St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League and the Sagicor High Performance team.

However, Ambris’ rise to the senior team hit a snag, as his outing for the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the West Indies Professional Cricket League in the 2015-2016 campaign saw him mustering 348 runs in 10 matches, at a paltry average of 21.75.

But it is widely believed that the best conduit for Ambris for West Indies senior selection is via the wicketkeeper/batsman route, hence his elevation to the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ captaincy.

Ambris kept wicket for the West Indies Under-19 team at the 2012 Youth World Cup in Australia.

He begins his role this week in Grenada, as St Vincent and the Grenadines takes on the host St Lucia and defending champions Dominica.

Ambris’ deputy will be Miles Bascombe, while seasoned batsmen Atticus Browne and Donwell Hector, as well as Rodney Lawrence, who is also a wicketkeeper and West Indies Under-19 player Gidron Pope should bear the brunt of the batting.

Also in are all-rounders Casmond Walters and Asif Hooper, with spinner Kenneth Dember to carry the slow bowling responsibilities.

The experienced left-arm fast bowlers duo of Kenroy Peters and Delorn Johnson will spearhead the attack, with rookies Shaquille Browne, Roneil Jeffrey and Obed Mc Coy adding support.

Named in the reserves are Deron Greaves, Romano Pierre, Othneil Lewis and Rickford Walker.

Former St Vincent and the Grenadines, Windwards and West Indies One-Day left-arm medium fast bowler Deighton Butler will be the team’s coach.