Blackwood a future star: Windies A coach

Kingston (Jamaica), May 9 (IANS/CMC) West Indies A coach Junior Bennett has earmarked batsman Jermaine Blackwood as one for the future and believes if he continues with his current trend, he will definitely represent the West Indies.

The 22-year-old topped the batting charts in the recently concluded Regional Four-Day Championship after plundering 611 runs at an average of 40.73 for Jamaica.

"The upward mobility of a player depends on how much he wants it. If he continues to work hard, he should definitely play at the next level," Bennett, also the coach of the Jamaican First Class team, said.

Blackwood started the season with modest scores but steadily grew in confidence to record half-centuries against Windward Islands and Barbados during the regular season.

He really came into his own in the Headley Weekes Trophy, hitting a half-century against Barbados in the semi-final at Kensington Oval and then 94 and 118 in the final against Windward Islands at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium.

"I'm not really surprised at him coming out on top as he has the talent. If you notice from last year, he had been getting starts but just was not carrying on. This was largely due to him wanting to play a lot of attacking shots," Bennett said.

"This year, he again started out a bit like that. However, throughout the season we were able to talk to him and get him to curb his instincts. He thereafter started to improve on his shot selection and by virtue of that batted longer."

Blackwood has played for the West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand and is a product of the West Indies High Performance Centre.

--IANS/CMC

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