CG United Super50 tournament: Anderson to play middle-order role, Nedd’s role with ball varies

– says WI Academy Coach Andre Coley

By Brandon Corlette

Kevlon Anderson and Ashmead Nedd are two Guyanese cricketers who would be representing Team West Indies Academy today, Saturday October 29, in a match against the Leeward Islands Volcanoes – the first match of the CG United Super50 tournament.

This match will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda, and gets underway from 13:00h Eastern Caribbean Time.
According to Head Coach of the West Indies Academy, Andre Coley, these two Guyanese cricketers would each play an important role for this side. “Kevlon, his role is to bat in the middle, and bowl off-break. He has come through the Under-19 system, and he is familiar with that role.
“Nedd, his main role (is) as a left-arm orthodox spinner. He may potentially bowl in the middle, or he could open the bowling. He has that versatility, he has benefitted from being around an IPL set-up, he has played Super50 before, and he offers some lower-order batting as well,” Coley explained.

Limited overs cricket has pushed players to do more than one familiar role, and Coley has said the West Indies Academy programme would ensure players show versatility in their games. “Outside of what players are used to, (it) is really to expose them to a number of different experiences; so, even though those roles may be more familiar to a player, as the tournament goes on, they will have opportunities to do different things, which is what this programme aims to do: expose them and build their game,” Coley has said.
Asked if everyone is fit and ready to go, Coley declared everybody is okay. “It is not uncommon to have niggles, and players play with niggles all the time. I am confident that with the medical and physical personnel staff we have, with whatever niggles around, that is being managed. But everybody is feeling pretty well.”
Coach Coley is confident that his guys would do well, after showing where they stand at the training camp prior to the Super50. “Very confident that most things have come to plan. Players have gone through a screening process, and that would have given us an idea where everyone is at,” he disclosed.
This tournament will see the return of West Indies stars; and for the young, emerging talents, playing around and against some big names would be beneficial. “For this tournament, very important,” Coley has said. “We are playing our regional tournament, and it is the first time in a long time (that) we will have most of our top regional players participating. So, it is a good opportunity for emerging players to get an opportunity to be involved in competitive cricket. It also gives them an opportunity to plan and work on their individual games; so, it is an important opportunity.”
Coley also noted that it has been recommended that Nyeem Young lead the squad. He noted that the strength of the team is its youthfulness and exuberance. He also noted that the batting group has a lot of scoring options, and the management has given them freedom in this regard in their approach.