FGS Plant Tour: Super50 squads

Kent begin their FGS Plant Tour on Wednesday against Guyana at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

After facing the Jaguars in the opening match of the West Indies Super50 one-day competition, Kent take on fellow seven-times winners Jamaica Scorpions on Sunday before fixtures against hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes and the USA national team in Group B.

Let’s look at our Group B opponents and a few faces Kent could come up against…

Guyana Jaguars (Jan 31 at 1pm and Feb 10 at 6pm)

The seven-time champions last won in 2006 and boast veteran Lancashire batsman Shiv Chanderpaul, now 43 as one of several West Indies internationals past and present.

Former international all-rounder Leon Johnson and recent Windies debutant left-hander Hetmeyer will be key men.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo will also be a tricky customer in Caribbean conditions.

Squad: Shirmon Hetmeyer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Leon Johnson, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Ramaal Lewis, Clinton Pestano, Ricardo Adams.

Jamaica Scorpions (Feb 4 at 1pm and Feb 14 at 1pm)

Last year’s runners-up will have some star talent on show this year with the inclusion of star opener Chris Gayle and all-rounder Andre Russell, who returns from suspension.

Right-hander Jermaine Blackwood and Windies-capped keeper Chadwick Walton are key players in a prolific middle order.

The likes of all-rounder Rovman Powell offer depth in both bowling and batting with veteran left-arm spinner Nikita Miller an effective operator on slower surfaces.

Squad: Nikita Miller, Chadwick Walton (w), Jermaine Blackwood, Rovman Powell, Brandon King, Christopher Lamont, Andre Russell, Odean Smith, Alwyn Williams, Andre McCarthy, Pear Salmon, Oshane Thomas, Gavin Wallace, Chris Gayle.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes (Feb 6 at 1pm and Feb 18 at 6pm)

Kent will face the host nation for a second successive season.

Opener Kieran Powell was the top run-scorer in the 2017 edition and the left-hander has played international cricket in all formats.

Antiguan batsman Devon Thomas has re-joined the Hurricanes after two seasons with Jamaica to provide runs alongside World T20-winning captain Marlon Samuels, who remains a mercurial talent at 36.

Supersized all-rounder Rakheem Cornwall will provide power with the bat and control with his accurate off-spin.

West Indies pacemen past and present Gavin Tonge and Alzarri Joseph are unavailable so the spinners including Cornwall and left-armer Hosein will bear much of the workload.

Squad: Keiran Powell, Devon Thomas, Keacy Carty, Rahkeem Cornwall, Montcin Hodge, Terance Warde, Jahmar Hamilton, Jeremiah Louis, Mervin Matthew, Sheno Berridge, Akeal Hosein, Marlon Samuels, Justin Athaneze, Kevon Cooper

USA (Feb 8 at 1pm and Feb 16 at 1pm)

Wild card entry USA continue their rise in the game with an invitation to the West Indies Regional Super50 for the first time.

Former Windies batsman Xavier Marshall, 31, is the star name alongside former India Under-19 internationals Netravalkar (a left-arm seamer aged 26 from Mumbai) and 30-year-old Sohal (a right-handed batsman who has played for three IPL franchises).

The potential surprise package of the tournament even without former captain Steven Taylor who now plays four-day cricket for Jamaica and is a regular in the Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament.

Squad: Ibrahim Khaleel (c), Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Xavier Marshall, Sunny Sohal, Jaskaran Malhotra, Nisarg Patel, Mrunal Patel, Elmore Hutchinson, Nosthusha Kenjige, Prashanth Nair, Usman Rafiq, Saurabh Netravalkar, Adil Bhatti.