New line-up for SVG women’s cricket team

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the 2004 and 2006 West Indies Women’s cricket league champions, will go into the 2007 tournament in Barbados from July 31, without some of the players who helped them lift the two previous titles.

Among the missing are former captain Geneille Greaves, all rounder Clea Hoyte, opening batsman Maria Abbott and utility player Mischa George.{{more}}

Greaves, attending the University of the West Indies, was ineligible for selection owing to a new ruling by the selection panel of Richard Todd, Ian Allen and Jules Anthony.

Greaves was not part of the national competition, which was the basis for selection, hence the decision of the panel.

Hoyte, a slow steady medium bowler and a dependable late order batsman was unavailable for what reports say were personal reasons.

Reports are that George recently took up a new job and was entrenching herself in that post.

Making their debut are Sherri Ann Abbott, Savyair Byron and Amanda Toby-Thorpe.

Taking over the reins of captaincy is middle order batsman Cordell Jack, who made the West Indies team to the World cup in South Africa 2005.

Another carrying the aspirations for a repeat of last year’s performance in St. Lucia is middle order batsman Julianna Nero. Rated as the number four batsman in the last women’s world cup, Nero, along with Jack is expected to shoulder the batting.

Camille Garrick and Phernel Charles return after missing last year’s tournament, while Terisha Lavia makes the elevation from the Under-23 team. Jean Blutcher, the surprise performer last year, notches up another year of national representation, so too are regulars Melissa Bellingy, Samantha Lynch, Earlene De Grads, Sheree- Ann John and Nicole Samuel, who complete the 14 member team.

Jasmine Browne, Annesha Williams, Marsha Hooper and Shavonne Clarke are the reserves.

Head coach Orlanzo Jackson told SEARCHLIGHT last Monday,” I feel happy about the squad chosen, there are one or two surprises, but there are players whom I would have liked to be in the squad, but the selectors know best”.

“Our chances remain the same as defending champion, even though we lost two key players but I think the new players are capable of doing the job”, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines leg spinner said.

Jackson singled out the bowling as the team’s strong area.

Cleton Burnett travels as coach/ trainer and Genita Lewis is the team’s manager.

The team leaves for Barbados tomorrow. SVG opens their defence against Grenada on Tuesday followed by a meeting with St. Lucia on Wednesday.

The National Lotteries Authority last Tuesday presented the team with a cheque for $10000 to assist in their travel.

Barbados won last year’s knock out segment of the tournament.(RT)