Jermaine Lannaman, Freelance Writer

The Jamaica Under-19 cricket team outside Hotel Four Seasons yesterday, before leaving for Barbados where it will be competing in the Under-19 regional competition. - Kyle Macpherson

Steadfast on defending their limited overs title and capturing the three-day crown, Jamaica's Under-19 cricketers left the island yesterday en route to Barbados for the TCL Group Caribbean Championship.

The team, which has in its line-up three players from last year's championship unit, will be led by coach Andre Coley, and he is expecting a good tournament.

"What happened last year was last year. It's a new year and a relatively new group of players, but they have heart and want to do well," said Coley. "It's just for them to deliver," he added.

Holmwood Technical's Andre Creary, who is a solid top order batsman, will captain the team. He along with St Jago High batsman, Garth Garvey, and Norman Manley High opener Horace Miller, represent the players from last year's squad.

This means that all the other players are first timers.

However, according to Coley, he is not perturbed.

"Though the squad is inexperienced at this level, its got talent and with talent anything is possible. We just need to stay focused from ball one," Coley added.

The tournament, which will last for approximately four weeks, will see Jamaica opening their account against Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.

The first round of the competition will see the six teams divided in two groups, with each team playing a minimum of two matches. The group winners will advance to the final.

The limited overs competition will precede the three-day tournament.