The regional youth cricket landscape is gearing up for one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious age-group competitions, with five young Saint Lucian cricketers securing places on the Windward Islands Under-19 men’s squad. The 14-player roster was finalized by the Windward Islands Cricket Board’s selection panel immediately following the conclusion of the sub-regional age-group knockout tournament held Saturday in Dominica’s capital, Roseau.
In the sub-regional tournament that served as the main selection trial, host nation Dominica claimed the top title, with Saint Lucia finishing as runners-up. This strong performance from Saint Lucian youth players translated into five spots in the final squad bound for the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 Tournament.
Heading up the selected squad as captain is Theo Edward, a batting all-rounder from Saint Lucia who turned in an impressive all-around performance throughout the selection tournament. Across four innings, Edward accumulated 84 runs with the bat, picked up two wickets with the ball, contributed six catches in the field and completed one run-out. Joining Edward from Saint Lucia are top-order batsman Johnathan Daniel, leg-spin bowler Cody Fontenelle, pace bowler Nathaniel Joseph and off-break bowler Tyler Venner.
The vice-captain role goes to Earsinho Fontaine, an all-rounder from host nation Dominica. Fontaine is joined by two other Dominican players: Derin Lewis, an opening batsman who also fills the wicketkeeper role, and all-rounder Aiden Burton. Grenada is represented by batsman Khavaughn Bartholomew and left-arm unorthodox spin (chinaman) bowler Aravinda Bishop. Four players round out the squad from St Vincent and the Grenadines: left-arm fast bowler Kazado Henry, who led all competitors in wicket tallies at the selection tournament, along with Zach Thomas, Kevin Joseph and Elran Glasgow.
The squad announcement was made official during the closing ceremony of the Windward Islands sub-regional series. John Eugene, a Saint Lucian cricket coach, has been appointed to lead the team as head coach. Two additional players, Bjorn Fanis and Neil Poyotte, have been named as official reserves for the upcoming regional tournament.