January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Fantastic four add youth to cricket squad
Irving Romaine named vice captain as Janeiro takes over skippership
As anticipated the four graduates of the South African winter academy - Azeem Pitcher, Jekon Edness, Stephen Outerbridge and Jim West - as well as schooboy Stefan Kelly will all go on the tour.
And 21-year-old Western Stars pace-man Jacobi Robinson has also been included in the squad as coach Gus Logie takes a look at his options for the final few places of his World Cup squad.
He said: “This is an opportunity to see where the players are and how they are developing…
“We have an idea of the nucleus of the players (for the World Cup). There's a core group who we have in mind but its still open for other players to show what they can do.”
Of that core group - probably Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker, Irving Romaine, Dean Minors, Dwayne Leverock, Saleem Mukuddem, Kevin Hurdle, Ryan Steede, Lionel Cann and Hasan Durham -only 29-year-old Hurdle is the right side of 30, something that could be a hindrance in the field.
And it is understandable that with captain Smith out injured Logie has chosen to fill his squad with young, energetic players.
The coach said he is pleased with the sharpeness of the academy players, who had been a step ahead of the other guys in training.
“This is a reward for their hard work. An investment has been made in these players and they bring to the team a confidence and enthusiasm in terms of their own fitness levels.
“We were quite impressed with them in training and they are now the benchmark for the other players.”
He said Outerbridge and West in particular had been leaving some of the others trailing in training drills.
“They have taken this opportunity and it's great to see such enthusiasm for the fitness work.”
Logie was also relishing the prospect of getting a closer look at teenage pace bowler Kelly.
The Leicestershire-based schoolboy has impressed the coach with his attitude as well as his bowling. But he is keen to see more of him at close quarters.
“We know his potential and we know he is a disciplined young man - not just in terms of his cricketing ability but in his general attitude.”
He agreed that in George O'Brien jnr, who is heading to an Australian academy, Kelly, West and Robinson there was plenty of potential and competition for places in the seam attack.
And he said now was a good time for them to start showing what they could do at the top level.
The UAE failed to qualify for the World Cup and were beaten by Bermuda in the ICC Trophy qualification competition, but the coach insisted they would be no pushovers.
“We have played them and beaten them and we want to continue with that. We know they have a lot of Pakistani immigrants and will be a good side but we aren't phased by that. We are focusing on our strengths and what we can do to beat them.”
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