0
TORONTO, Feb 2: Following are the pen-sketches of Canada squad:
JOSEPH HARRIS
Born Aug 16, 1965. Captain. Moved to Canada after failing to make grade in Barbados in the 1980s. Middle-order batsman who has overseen an improving Canadian side which qualified for the World Cup by finishing third in the 2001 ICC Trophy.
ASHISH BAGAI
Born Jan 26, 1982. Wicket-keeper. Born in India, Bagai is seen as a future star of the team and played vital role in his team’s qualification for the World Cup.
IAN BILLCLIFF
Born Oct 26, 1972. Grew up in New Zealand where he played for Auckland, Otago and Wellington and spent eight seasons in club cricket.
DESMOND CHUMNEY
Born Jan 8, 1968. Regular first teamer since the 1997 ICC Trophy and has picked up valuable experience playing for Trinidad and Tobago. His innings of 36 proved crucial as Canada defeated Scotland to book their place in the finals.
AUSTIN CODRINGTON
Born Aug 22, 1975. Fast-medium bowler and hits vital lower order runs but struggled to make impression in ICC Trophy. Improved steadily with line and length.
JOHN DAVISON
Born May 9, 1970. Right-arm off-spinner and reliable lower order batsman who learnt his trade in Australia with Victoria before returning to Canada to help his side to the World Cup. His form led to an offer to play for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.
NICHOLAS DE GROOT
Born Oct 22, 1975. Elegant batsman and medium pacer who played for Guyana against Australia in 1994-95 when just 19. Played for the West Indies youth team but never reached full potential.
NICHOLAS IFILL
Born Nov 24, 1968. All-rounder whose best international performance came at the 2000 Americas Cup where he took 3-78 and made 78 as Canada beat Bermuda to win the trophy. He played for Canada in the 2000 Red Stripe Bowl where he took a hat trick against the USA.
DAVIS JOSEPH
Born July 31, 1963. Hugely experienced opening bowler having played in four ICC Trophy competitions, Best performance came in the 2000 Red Stripe Bowl when he took 6-39 against Jamaica. Also dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for just two runs at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
ISHWAR MARAJ
Born Jan 26, 1969. Left-handed batsman with good all round strokes. Played for Trinidad and played vital role in World Cup qualification where he made three half-centuries including 50 against Scotland in third-place play-off.
ASHISH PATEL
Born July 31, 1975. Yet to play an ICC Trophy games, this medium pacer made his mark with seven wickets at the 2001 Americas Cup.
ABDOOL SAMAD
Born May 3, 1979. No appearances in the senior squad but has played Under-19 cricket and his all-round abilities will be useful in World Cup.
FAZIL SATTAUR
Born April 6, 1965. Played for Guyana between 1984 and 1990 and can bowl off-spin or keep wicket. Didn’t play in the 2001 ICC Trophy but was top scorer at the 2001 Americas Cup.
BARRY SEEBARAN
Born Sept 12, 1972. Left-arm spinner who played his first international at 16 and first ICC Trophy game in 1990. Varies flight and pace.
SANJAYAN THURAISINGHAM
Born Sept 11, 1969. Fast-medium bowler who was Canada’s top wicket-taker at the 2001 ICC Trophy as the country booked their ticket to the World Cup. In the third place play-off, he took 5-25 against Scotland. At the 1998 Commonwealth Games, he dismissed Australia’s Adam Gilchrist for a single.—AFP
