Cayman Islands cricket has the ‘chance of a lifetime’ to qualify for the T20 World Cup, says skipper Conroy Wright.
That’s the verdict of skipper Conroy Wright who led his team to the final stage of qualification with a series of impressive performances in Argentina.
Cayman finished second in the nine-team tournament held in Buenos Aires last month.
The result means they progress alongside Bermuda and the Bahamas to compete with Canada for the last slot in the World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka next year. The US and the West Indies have already qualified as a result of their performances in the last World Cup.
Despite being part-time players with limited training facilities, Wright believes there is enough talent to take Cayman to the highest level.
He highlighted the performances of Sacha De Alwis – a Caymanian with Sri Lankan roots – in Argentina. He was the top run scorer in the tournament, smashing three half-centuries and a massive 150 from 67 balls against Brazil.
Cayman won six of their eight matches, narrowly losing to Bermuda and slipping up against minnows Suriname in an otherwise powerful performance. That was enough to put them in the final four to compete in Canada later this year.
Wright acknowledged that tournament, tentatively scheduled for August or September, would be a different level of intensity.
But he insisted if Cayman’s players train hard they can win.
“We must prepare ourselves. And when we go there, we just put our best foot forward,” he said.
“This tournament in Canada could change the life of some of the players. It could change the whole cricketing fraternity because I think there’s a huge sum of cash if you qualify to play in the World Cup.”
Cayman is battling against poor facilities, including lack of floodlights to help players who work during the day to train in the evening. But Wright encouraged his team to make the best of what they have and get the results that bring in the funding from the International Cricket Council.
Compared with Bermuda and Canada, the opportunities to play competitive cricket are also relatively limited.
Max opportunity
That’s why he is urging his players to soak up as much knowledge and experience as they can in the Max60 tournament set for March. Wright, who will play alongside England great Johnny Bairstow, said it was a significant opportunity for every player involved.
“Even myself as a captain, I will learn a lot based on the game strategy – when to bowl, what kind of field to set – it is going to be a big experience for the guys to play and learn.”
Wright admits to some nerves bowling against Aussie superstar David Warner in the last Max60.
“I was worried he might smash every ball out of the park,” he said.
As it turned out, Wright was one of the stronger bowlers in the tournament.
“It definitely gives you confidence,” he said.
While playing alongside star players in the 10-over format will be a learning experience, Wright is firmly focused on the tournament in Canada as the end goal for this year.
He believes his team has what it takes but must make the best of the limitations on training time and facilities to earn the right to complete in the World Cup.
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