Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

JAMAICA'S WOMEN cricketers left the island yesterday for St Lucia, where they will participate in the West Indies women's tournament.

The team, which includes two players who represented the West Indies in their just-concluded tour of Europe, will open its campaign tomorrow against St Vincent and the Grenadines, and is expected to play seven matches in eight days.

"It's a situation that I am not totally comfortable with (playing seven matches in eight days) but I guess it is something we will have to live with. I will ask for a lot from the girls and I hope they can give a good account of themselves," said Cleyon Smith, coach of the team.

Teenagers

The 14-member contingent is made up of a number of teenagers and will be captained by Herma Nathan. However, it is the batting and bowling exploits of Stephanie Taylor and Shadeen Nation that they will be looking forward to most.

Taylor, a student of Eltham High, who hit 90 against Ireland and scored a couple of other half-centuries during the West Indies tour of Europe, is a strokeplayer, while Nation, who was vice-captain of the West Indies team, is an all-rounder.

As it relates to the regional tournament, the Jamaicans will enter as underdogs as, whereas they had two players on the West Indies team, countries such Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados had six and five players, respectively.

Remain disciplined

"On paper we are third best, but that doesn't say that we can't come out on top. All you girls need to do is stay focused, work as a team and remain disciplined," said Brian Breese, cricket operations officer of the Jamaica Cricket Association, at a presentation of team colours held at Sabina Park on Tuesday.

The tournament, which was originally planned for Jamaica but had to be rescheduled due to flight conditions in the eastern Caribbean, will provide an opportunity for the players to make a claim for a spot on the West Indies team, which will participate in two important tournaments next year. These are the ICC Women's World Cup, which will be played in Australia in February, while the first ICC Women's Twenty20 World Championships will be played in England in July.