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Radiant Info T20 Cricket 2010 - Global New Jersey Daredevils packs a 1-2 punch
In two previous editions of the DreamCricket.com organized Radiant Info T20, two New Jersey teams managed to reach the semi-finals. In 2009, the NJ Daredevils fell to the eventual champions New York in the semis. Global Challengers, the other NJ team, went all the way to their second consecutive finals before losing to New York. For 2010, the two have decided to join hands to build one formidable team captained by West Indies Test cricketer and former Guyana captain Neil McGarrell.
McGarrell told DreamCricket.com on the sidelines of last month's National U-15 tournament that after two successive runner-up performances in the Radiant Info T20, he is hungry to win the title for New Jersey.
Neil McGarrell came close to lifting the trophy in 2008 and 2009
Global Data Management Corporation, which has stood behind the Challengers acted as a catalyst for the merger of the two sides. "Siddharth Mehta and I, we went back to the drawing board with the aim of pulling together a top-shelf team for New Jersey," Jaideep Reddy, promoter of Global Data and Manager of the newly christened Global NJ Daredevils told DreamCricket.com adding, "this team is packed with USA and international talent that is capable of beating the best."
Here is a sneak preview of the Global NJ Daredevils outfit.
Neil McGarrell (38): To those that follow cricket in New Jersey, Neil McGarrell needs no introduction. A resident of New Jersey, McGarrell plays for GWIA in the Garden State Cricket League and for Global Challengers in the Millennium Cricket League.
Making his international debut in 2001, McGarrell played 4 Tests and 17 ODIs for West Indies. In 2003, McGarrell was named captain of Guyana and last played for Guyana in the 2008 Stanford 20/20 semi-final against Jamaica, which his side lost by 1 run in a close contest. Although he is better known for his exploits as a bowler with 276 first class wickets, he is an equally proficient batsman and featured in several match winning knocks for his side. In a 2007 List A match for Guyana against T&T, McGarrell scored 51* off 39 balls with three fours and a six. At 38, Neil remains formidable and is on the leaderboard in both bowling and batting departments in both the leagues he plays. Last month, he scored a century playing for GWIA against East Orange CC.
Siddharth Mehta (27): Atlantic Region cricketer Siddharth Mehta is a left-handed opening batsman and is a chinaman bowler as well. Having trained at the Kiran More Cricket Academy in Baroda, this cricket prodigy moved to the US when he was 18. He has won multiple individual awards in the bowling and batting categories and some of his personal milestones include hitting 200 in a 40-over game and scoring an unbeaten 144 against the Jamaican national team. He is known for his big-match temperament and has always stored his best for the key matches .
Sid has led teams to a championship in MCL, CLNJ, GSCL or WCL leagues every year since 2004 – a noteworthy accomplishment by any standards.
Jermaine Lawson (28): Lawson is a West Indies fast bowler capable of unleashing the ball at 150 KmH (that is 93 miles per hour). Lawson has so far played 13 Tests and 13 ODIs for West Indies in an explosive international career that has been curtailed by illness and injury.
His 51 Test wickets include an incredible 6 wickets for 3 runs against Bangladesh and a career best tally of 7 for 78 including a hat-trick against Australia. In 2008, he was signed by the English county of Leicestershire as a Kolpak bowler. In 2010, Jermaine joined the Montego Bay Cricket Club in the Garden State Cricket League where he figures among the top bowlers.
Jermaine Lawson bowls to Rahul Dravid (File Photo)
Kumar Nandalal (26): This specialist left-arm spinner formed a potent spinning duo with Neil McGarrell in the last two editions of the Radiant Info T20 to create one of the best spinning attacks in the tournament. His variations in flight and loop and the deadly arm-ball have baffled way too many batsmen and he is gearing up to put on a beguiling show in the art of spin bowling. An Atlantic Region player, Kumar was called for USA last year but has since been sidelined due to injury.
Deepak Gopinath (24): Deepak is the NJ Sluggers batsman who is getting a lot of attention in his first season in New Jersey - he has so far scored 520 runs in 13 appearances at an average approaching 50. Although a newcomer to NJ, Deepak is no stranger to representative cricket having represented Tamil Nadu at U-16 and U-19 levels in India before taking time off for higher studies. After finishing his MS from CCNY, Deepak has now padded up again for his second innings in USA and is sure to make a strong claim in the forthcoming trials to join the Atlantic Region squad.
Aditya Mishra (28): Aditya is a first class cricketer who was the opening batsman for the Karnataka Ranji Trophy team for the season 2001-2002. He also represented Karnataka in U-22 and U-19 categories. He is a gifted opening batsman with compact technique and aggressive batting style that makes him a treat to watch when on song. He plays for Atlantic Region in USA, for the traveling team DreamCricket Fooglies, and after a prolonged wait, he earned a call-up for USA this year.
He represents Gymkhana Cricket Club in the CLNJ cricket league for whom he has consistently been the highest run scorer.
Kiran Patel (27): A former Gujarat U-19 cricketer, Kiran is an explosive top-order batsman who bowls left arm chinaman. Rejoining the cricket scene upon finishing graduate school in USA, Kiran was quick to attention of selectors for his performances playing for Montego Bay in GSCL gaining him a spot in the Atlantic Region squad.
A more complete roster including the names of the two under-19 players will be released on Monday.