Rising Stars to add finishing touches for World Cup in South Africa series

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC):

Finalising roles and enhancing situation awareness will be high on the agenda for West Indies Under-19s head coach, Floyd Reifer, when his side face South Africa Under-19s in a four-match series bowling off in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Boxing Day.

The series, comprising 50-over matches, will be played at the Arnos Vale Stadium and Cumberland Playing Field, with fixtures also on December 28, December 30 and January 3.

And Reifer said the tour would be critical in helping the Rising Stars put the finishing touches on their preparation for next month’s start of the International Cricket Council Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean.

“It’s great for us to have these matches as part of the build-up to the World Cup,” Reifer said.

“We are really looking forward to this series against South Africa, as we are at the stage where it is important for the squad to play together, to see players in various roles, see how they respond to situations and how well they execute the plans we put in place.”

West Indies Under-19s have spent the last six months in intense preparation for the January 14 to February 5 ICC Under-19 World Cup carded for Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, and Guyana.

The hosts will do battle in Group D alongside Australia, Sri Lanka and Scotland.