By Samuel Peters
The Leeward Islands Under 17 Men’s Cricket Team departed for Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday to compete in the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars tournament.
The team assembled in Antigua last week for a four-day camp, playing a two-day and a one-day practice match. The tournament bowls-off on the 14th August to 2nd September.
Tanez Francis, a 15-year-old all-rounder from Empire Cricket Club, will captain the team. Francis, who recently completed a cricket scholarship at Harrow School in the UK, was named MVP in the Under 19 School League Finals against Pares Secondary School.
Francis takes over the leadership from Matthew Miller, who was injured during the Rising Stars Under 19 Tournament in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Amoree Jones replaces Miller in the squad.
The team includes three other Antiguans: fast bowler Mekali Tonge, Leewards Under 15 Captain and all-rounder J’quan Athanaze, and Leewards Under 19 leg spinner Micah McKenzie.
The full squad comprises: Tanez Francis (Captain), Is-rael Morton, De-antre Drew, Mekali Tonge, Jaheem Clarke, J’quan Athanaze, Lawshorn Bergan, Devanand Singh, Caiden Francis, Micah McKenzie, Carlton Pluck, Lythe Browne, Amoree Jones, and Eirette Richards.
Hosea Roberts and Jathan Edwards are the reserve players.
The team aims to make a strong showing in this prestigious youth cricket tournament.
