Shai Hope, brother out of Super50 after positive COVID tests
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies batting star, Shai Hope, and his older brother, Kyle Hope, have both been ruled out of next month’s Super50 Cup in Antigua after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Barbados Cricket Association announced the positive tests yesterday, after the Barbados Pride touring party underwent testing last weekend in preparation for travel.
“Following the results of the first completed COVD19 tests, Kyle and Shai Hope returned positive results and will be placed in isolation in accordance with Government of Barbados protocols,” a BCA release said.
Batsman Zachary McCaskie and wicketkeeper-batsman Tevyn Walcott will replace the Hope brothers in the Barbados Pride 15-man squad, and will now undergo the required COVID-19 testing.
Pride are scheduled to depart the island on Sunday for the February 7-27 regional domestic 50-over championship.
The latest development will be a massive blow to the Pride squad as the Hope brothers were two of nine players with West Indies experience set to play in the tournament. Shai, 27, is one of the world’s leading one-day batsmen, boasting an average of 52 in internationals and nearly 50 in List A.
Youthful Volcanoes squad for regional tournament
ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Selectors have placed an emphasis on youth in a 15-man Windward Islands Volcanoes squad for next month’s Super50 Cup in Antigua.
Eight players aged 25 and under have been picked for the February 7-27 campaign, with veterans Kirk Edwards, Shane Shillingford and Devon Smith all missing.
A statement from Windward Islands Cricket said the 39-year-old Smith has joined the Volcanoes management staff as batting coach.
Batsman Sunil Ambris, who serves as West Indies vice-captain on the three-match one-day tour of Bangladesh which ended Monday, will return to lead the squad.
He will have as his deputy West Indies white ball specialist, Andre Fletcher, who last featured in the Super50 three years ago.
Fletcher, leg-spinner Kerron Cottoy and Barbadian journeyman all-rounder, Kevin Stoute, are the only players in the squad over age 28.
The 35-year-old Stoute, a former Barbados Pride captain, has also not played in the Super50 since the 2018 edition.
Volcanoes will rely on their youthful talent if they are repeat their success of 2018 when they beat Pride in the final at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.
Five members from that championshhip XI – Roland Cato, Ryan John, Alick Athanaze, Larry Edwards and Obed McCoy – have retained their places for this year’s tournament.
Kimani Melius, 20, and fellow batsman Emmanuel Stewart, 21, both former West Indies Under-19 captains, have secured their spots along with 22-year-old strokemaker Alick Athanaze, who was the hero of the 2018 final as a teenager.
Volcanoes’ youthful pace attack is expected to also excite with left-armers Obed McCoy, 24, and Preston McSween, 25, set to join forces with 23-year-old Ryan John and 26-year-old Ray Jordan.
Volcanoes take on Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the tournament opener at Coolidge Cricket Ground on February 7.
SQUAD – Sunil Ambris (captain), Andre Fletcher, Alick Athanaze, Roland Cato, Keron Cottoy, Kenneth Dember, Larry Edward, Ryan John, Ray Jordan, Desron Maloney, Obed McCoy, Preston McSween, Kimani Melius, Emmanuel Stewart, Kevin Stoute.
Ironically, he was one of 10 West Indies players who declined selection for the ongoing tour of Bangladesh due to “COVID related concerns or personal fears”, over the health situation in the south Asian country.
He was in excellent form with two hundreds during the Legends Cup last month, a tournament which served as trials in order to select the final squad.
Kyle, meanwhile, has played five Tests and seven One-Day Internationals for West Indies, and was making a return to the Pride squad after spending several seasons with Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.
The pair were part of a strong batting lineup that included Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase and captain Jason Holder – all of whom also opted out of the Bangladesh tour.
Barbados Pride Squad: Jason Holder (captain), Joshua Bishop, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Jonathan Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Akeem Jordan, Nicholas Kirton, Zachary McCaskie, Ashley Nurse and Tevyn Walcott; Head Coach Dexter Toppin, Assistant Coach Corey Collymore, Manager Wendell Coppin, Physiotherapist Dr Jacqueline King, Strength & Conditioning Trainer Alexander Forde and Video Analyst Jamar Layne.