CPL champion Tallawahs let go Hyatt, recruit Voges

Kingston, April 17 (IANS/CMC) Former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh said he regretted not being able to retain Jamaican batsman Danza Hyatt for the Jamaica Tallawahs during the recent draft for this year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Hyatt was grasped by the Antigua Hawkbills in Round 9 of the draft. Walsh, who represented the Tallawahs, said Hyatt was a good performer for the franchise last year.

“One name we had planned for and didn’t get was Danza Hyatt. We wanted to have him in this set-up because he did pretty well with us last year. Unfortunately, the Hawksbills had that pick and they stole him from under our noses,” said Walsh.

The Tallawah mostly held on to members of their winning squad with new acquisition of batsman Adam Voges and pacer Juan Theron on the recommendation of the absent pair of head coach Mickey Arthur and captain Christopher Gayle.

Australia’s Voges is a 34-year-old top-order batsman and the lesser known Theron, 28, is a fast bowler from South Africa.

Opener Ahmed Shehzad was retained while Sri Lankan off-spinning legend Muttiah Muralitharan remains their international franchise player (IFP) and was not a part of the draft.

“When we looked at it, we wanted an all-round squad. We wanted bowling at the death, seam bowlers to get the wickets early, batsmen who can win the game for you and spinners to give the variety in attack,” added Walsh.

All-rounder Andre Russell, 25, who starred with the bat in helping the Tallawahs to victory in the 2013 edition of the tournament, was retained in Round 1.

Fit-again 29-year-old fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who has shown good form since his latest return from injury, was also drafted.

The CPL T20 is slated to begin in July.

Jamaica Tallawahs squad: Christopher Gayle, Muttiah Muralitharan, Andre Russell, Ahmed Shehzad, Adam Voges, Nikita Miller, Jerome Taylor, Juan Theron, Chadwick Walton, David Bernard, Andrew Richardson, Carlton Baugh, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Odean Brown.