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ST KITTS/NEVIS Patriots and Barbados Royals, who occupied the bottom two spots in the 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) points standings, will be looking to make amends for last season when they square off in the second game of Thursday’s double-header, as the 2021 season bowls off.
All matches in the 2021 season will be staged at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts.
Defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) will tackle Guyana Amazon Warriors at 10 am on Thursday, with Patriots, who finished last in the six-team competition last year, facing the Royals at 7 pm.
The Patriots have seen the return of Chris Gayle to their fold, as well as the inclusion of another T20 great Dwayne Bravo, who made the switch from the TKR, with Denesh Ramdin heading in the opposite direction.
Coach Simon Helmot, who served as TKR coach from 2014-2016, is buoyed by the additions of Gayle and Bravo to the Patriots line-up.
“Our expectation (is) to push for the championship,” said Helmot, during a Zoom media briefing on Monday. “To have the services of Bravo, that’s terrific, and the Universe Boss Chris Gayle, that’s awesome.”
The Australian Helmot continued, “We’re really pleased to pick up recruits such as Sherfane Rutherford and overseas (players) like (England’s all-rounder) Ravi Bopara and (Pakistan-born Australian leg-spinner) Fawad Ahmed. Evin Lewis is such an important player, if he fires on top, that’s going to bode well for a very successful season.”
The Patriots mustered one victory in ten matches last year, when the tournament was staged in Trinidad. This time around, they are looking to make a complete turnaround, in front of their home fans.
“I am confident, however, we need to make sure we deliver,” said Helmot. “It was such a terrible season (in 2020). There were lots of challenges. I didn’t turn up myself.
[caption id="attachment_909416" align="alignnone" width="514"] St Kitts/Nevis skipper Rayad Emrit (left) has a chat with countryman and teammate Joshua Da Silva during the 2020 Hero CPL. - CPL MEDIA[/caption]
“I’m looking forward to this season. We’re looking to make amends for last season and hopefully reverse it, and all of a sudden from the bottom to the top.”
Former New Zealand captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has taken over as coach of the Royals, who have been rebranded from Barbados Tridents.
Vettori noted, “A lot has happened in the last couple of months. I only came on board with the team (during) that time as well. The new ownership coming in with the Royals, they have a brand with Rajasthan and they have a long history in T20 cricket.”
About the squad, which will be led by ex-WI skipper Jason Holder, “It’s an exciting team on paper. Two years ago, Barbados won the CPL. There are still some good feeling from those days. Jason Holder’s record speaks for itself, I’m excited to work with him.”
New Zealand wicketkeeper/batsman Glenn Phillips have made the move from the Jamaica Tallawahs to the Royals.
According to his fellow Kiwi, “From a batting perspective, he’s a guy that can adapt to the Caribbean conditions. Sometimes the wickets can be tough for (batsmen) but he has been so successful here. We see what he can bring to the field.
“He started to bowl a bit more for New Zealand and we see him as an option, once the conditions start to suit spin bowlers.”
Squads –
ST KITTS/NEVIS PATRIOTS: Rayad Emrit (captain), Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Asif Ali, Sherfane Rutherford, Ravi Bopara, Fabian Allen, Mikyle Louis, Devon Thomas, Joshua Da Silva, Fawad Ahmed, Jon Russ Jaggesar, Dwayne Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Paul van Meekeren, Dominic Drakes, Colin Archibald.
BARBADOS ROYALS: Jason Holder (captain), Johnson Charles, Kyle Mayers, Justin Greaves, Azam Khan, Ashley Nurse, Thisara Perera, Smit Patel, Shai Hope, Glenn Phillips, Hayden Walsh Jnr, Jake Lintott, Joshua Bishop, Raymon Reifer, Mohammad Amir, Oshane Thomas, Nyeem Young.
 
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