West Indies to begin three-week high-performance program under Courtney Walsh

The preparation camp which will go on till February 1 will be featuring the country’s top stars along with some new faces aiming at the ICC World Cup qualifiers due to be played in Sri Lanka later this year. All the players and support staff have tested negative for COVID-19 twice before arriving in Antigua and are adhering to all health protocols put in front by the country’s ministry.

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The players and support staff will train and live in a bio-secure bubble for the duration of the camp, during which they will have four more tests conducted. Walsh will be joined by formers Robert Samuels and Corey Collymore.

“It’s very gratifying that the camp can take place during this challenging COVID-19 period, as the players are excited about getting down to work. We have a good mixture of youth and experience coming into the camp and I’m especially looking forward to working with some of the younger talents we have come through,” Walsh said in a statement.

“On the coaching side we have Samantha Lynch joining us and she did her Level 3 coaching certification training at the same time as me, so I know her very well. This camp will be a good experience for her, and I expect her to quickly become an asset to the team.

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“Also, we have Steve Liburd who went to England with the team last September, to help with the fielding, and Ryan Austin to focus on our spinners. I think we have a good blend of players and coaches and I’m looking forward to a great camp,” the former West Indies pacer added.

Apart from the regulars the squad also has several new faces with Japhina Joseph getting her maiden entry in the national training camp. The right-handed batter from St. Vincent and The Grenadines has impressed the selectors during the CWI U-19 tournament in 2019.

All-rounder Qiana Joseph from the Windward Islands also makes a return to the training squad along with teenager Steffi Soogrim from Trinidad and Tobago.

Full Squad:

Aaliyah Alleyne, Reniece Boyce, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi,  Sheneta Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph, Japhina Joseph, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Matthews, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Shakera Selman, Steffi Soogrim, Stafanie Taylor