All-rounder Kofi James and leg-spinner Micah McKenzie have been named in a strong Antigua and Barbuda 14-member squad to contest the inaugural Leeward Islands Cricket Board’s T20 Festival in Antigua at the end of the month.
Both players produced impressive performances for the Leeward Islands Thunder, who claimed the runners-up spot at the recent inaugural six-team Cricket West Indies (CWI) Breakout T20 League in Trinidad.
James and McKenzie topped the batting and bowling aggregates, respectively, during the West Indies Breakout T20 League that took place from April 25 to May 10.
James, an attacking right-handed batsman and off-spinner in the mould of his father, Stanford “Hardy” James, finished as the leading run scorer with a tally of 240 runs in seven matches.
His recent mature batting displays in the West Indies Breakout League gave glimpses of James’ immense talent. The national selectors will be hoping that James, who will be considered as one of the more experienced players on the Antiguan senior team, will deliver and fulfill his potential.
The 17-year-old McKenzie, who has represented Antigua and the Leeward Islands at the youth level (under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19), finished as the leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets in six matches.
McKenzie has honed his skills at Empire Nation (formerly Empire Cricket Club) under the guidance of coach Ian Tittle, who is a former Antiguan and Leeward Islands cricketer.
McKenzie has now received his first call-up to the Antigua and Barbuda senior national team on the back of his outstanding performances at the West Indies Breakout T20 League, in which he gained rave reviews from cricket pundits during live broadcast of matches in the competition.
McKenzie is one of five newcomers to the senior national team. The others are all-rounder Michael Haynes Dover of All Saints Pythons, fast bowler Jedidiah Martin of Jennings Tigers, and wicketkeeper/batsmen D’Ahri Francis of Jennings Tigers and Bartlette Henry of the New Winthorpes Lions.
The experienced off-spinner, batting all-rounder, and Leeward Islands Hurricane skipper Rahkeem Cornwall will captain the team. Karima Gore, who led Antigua to title honours in the Leeward Island 50-Over Championship in St. Kitts and Nevis last October, will be vice-captain of the Antigua and Barbuda team.
Gore also captained the Leeward Islands Thunder in the recent CWI Breakout T20 League. The squad also includes experienced West Indies leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr.
Two reserves are also chosen. They are all-rounder Amahl Nathaniel of Liberta Blackhawks and all-rounder Ishmael Peters of the New Winthorpes Lions.
The team is being guided by head coach and former national left-arm seamer Pernel “Shafto” Watley and Purnell “Roxie” Joseph, who is the manager.
Six teams, comprising all eight member territories, will participate in an inaugural Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) T20 Festival in Antigua and Barbuda at the end of the month.
The event will take place at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound from Saturday, May 31, to Sunday, June 8.
Players from Montserrat and St. Maarten will team up to represent the Combined Islands, while players from the British and United States Virgin Islands will join forces to compete at the Virgin Islands team.
The other four participating teams are host Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Nevis, and St. Kitts.
The LICB T20 Festival will bowl off with the first triple-header on Saturday, May 31. The Combined Islands will take on Nevis at 11 am, Anguilla will meet the Virgin Islands, and St. Kitts will clash with Antigua and Barbuda at 7 pm.
Antigua and Barbuda Squad: Rahkeem Cornwall (captain), Karima Gore (vice-captain), Michael Dover, Tyrone Williams Jr., Kofi James, D’Ahri Francis, Bartlette Henry, Elroy Francis Jr., Hayden Walsh Jr., Nino Henry, Glenton Williams, Jedidiah Martin, Micah McKenzie, and Javier Spencer. Reserves: Amahl Nathaniel and Ishmael Peters. Pernel Watley (coach) and Purnell Joseph (manager).
