Cornwall In, Hamilton Unsure Ahead Of Guyana Clash

Coach of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Winston Benjamin, has welcomed back Windies A all-rounder and Antiguan Rahkeem “Jimbo” Cornwall into the sub-regional line-up ahead of their Regional 4 Day clash against defending champions Guyana Jaguars starting Thursday in St. Kitts.
Cornwall, Benjamin said, brings a wealth of cricketing knowledge to the team.
“Well it brings experience, a little bit more stability and it adds some strength to our bowling. Jimbo has played for Leewards now for quite a number of years and has been our main wicket-taker for the last two or three seasons. So far we have started pretty well with Gavin Tonge and young Jeremiah Louis who have really put up their hands and accepted the responsibility,” he said.
“We have Mervin Matthew from the Windwards who we acquired this season and he too has held up one end, making sure he applies pressure and I don’t think that he has reaped the rewards of how well he has bowled,” he added.
The former West Indies fast bowler was however skeptical of Jahmar Hamilton who is also fresh off Windies A duties, after the player reportedly picked up an injury.
Benjamin however expected the same level of intensity from all players going into the third round match against the Jaguars.
“We are still going in with the same mentality, we have to be patient, positive and we have to back ourselves. We have to do the right things or the simple things correctly and consistently, and that is what I am trying to get the players to understand and so far it’s been working,” he said.
“He [Jahmar Hamilton] should be in the squad but there is a bit of a niggle [injury concern] so we have not finalised the team as yet. So we are just waiting to see what the result is from his treatment and so forth and how he reacts to it and then we will make that decision,” the coach added.
Asked about the return of veteran cricketer and former West Indies player, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, into the Guyana line-up, Benjamin said it has not gone unnoticed.
“Definitely we would have to discuss it because Shiv is a good player even though, in terms of age, he is ripe, we still cannot overlook Shiv. I think they brought him in to stabilise their middle order and Shiv had a very good season in England and has resigned for Lancashire so that is an indication of how well he is still playing,” he said.
Guyana Jaguars head the standings with 40.4 points, nearly 10 points clear of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes who have 30.6 points.