Paul Nixon, the Jamaica Tallawahs head coach, is optimistic that the team will execute positively to kick-start their 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 tournament against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots today.
Nixon, who has returned after leading the franchise to its only title in 2013, said though the team will respect their opponents, they will be aiming to be ruthless in their display.
“We want to start well; everybody wants to start well to get some momentum and get some early belief. We have to believe because if you don’t believe you can win it, then you shouldn’t be here.
“There are a lot of very good teams and we are going to respect those teams, but we have got our job to do and we have to be ruthless and fearless and enjoy our journey. I think the team that plays six overs to 15 overs most consistently will win this competition,” he told the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview at the Norman Manley International Airport.
The Jamaica Tallawahs, having struggled over the past two seasons to find consistency within the middle order, failed to get past the semi-finals in 2014 and were eliminated just shy of the semi-finals last year.
However, Nixon believes the blend of youth and experience within the squad are hungry and desirous to prove their class in this season of the Caribbean’s professional Twenty20 tournament.
The Chris Gayle-led squad comprises Andre Russell, Chadwick Walton, Nkrumah Bonner, Andre McCarthy, Ravmon Powell, Jonathan Foo, Timroy Allen, Shakib Al Hasan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dale Steyn, Alex Ross, Imad Wasim, Jon-Russ Jaggesar, Garey Mathurin and Kesrick Williams.
“The great thing is that youth needs experience and vice versa. Our preparations have gone well and we are ready to get started now. So, from here it is about good game plans and clear thinking under pressure. They have all been busy so they are all coming in now in good form, which is wonderful; so we just want to keep the crest that we have going,“ Nixon noted.
“I think it will be a squad effort; there are so many different pitches and we have so many good players, so we are going to have to make some really tough decisions going forward, who we leave out or not. But they are good decisions to make because we know what we have got on the bench are about our strength, so we will be fine,” added the Englishman. (Jamaica Observer)
