A confident and balanced North Zone U-15 cricket team will begin its latest campaign on the 28th January, buoyed by lessons from last year’s near-miss and encouraged by a revamped tournament structure designed to reward consistency and performance.
This year’s competition will be contested in a two-group format, with no crossover matches.
Each group will produce a winner, and those two teams will advance directly to the final.
North will take on East at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, in their opening Group A match.
They then face South on 4 February and South East on February 11.
The final on 19 February features the top two teams in the group at the National Cricket Centre.
The organisers believe the structure offers a clearer and fairer pathway, placing the emphasis firmly on results rather than reputation.
For North Zone U-15, the format presents both opportunity and motivation.
Last year, they fell agonisingly short of lifting the title, losing to South East by 12 runs in the final.
That disappointment, however, has become a source of growth rather than regret.
Blend of Youth and Experience
The current North Zone U15 squad retains six players from last year’s team, providing continuity and leadership.
They are complemented by a promising group of younger players, including two 12-year-olds, giving the side a healthy mix of experience and youthful energy.
Preparation has been thorough, with several practice matches played over recent weekends.
Head coach Earnil Ryan reports that the squad is settling well, showing improved cohesion and adaptability.
Adding intrigue to the line-up is the presence of players with strong cricketing lineage, including the son of a former West Indies cricketer Narsingh Deonarine, and the grandson of former West Indies spinner Inshan Ali
While the pedigree is acknowledged, team management has been clear that selection and expectations are based squarely on performance and commitment.
Development before Results
Ryan’s coaching philosophy remains rooted in development.
At this level, his emphasis is on giving young players a fair opportunity to express their talent, rather than overloading them with rigid instruction.
“This is a stage where players must learn to read the game, make decisions, and grow in confidence,” Ryan explained. “Winning matters, but growth matters more.”
That approach is underpinned by experience.
Ryan previously guided the Trinidad and Tobago Under-17 team to a 50-over title, coached in earlier editions of the tournament, and has been involved in Olympic cricket initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago.
Players Shaped by Experience
Several players credit last year’s run to the final as a defining experience.
Fatima College all-rounder Davis Guerra who also represented Trinidad and Tobago Under-15 at the regional level, described the campaign as an important lesson in awareness and positivity.
“Last year taught us to be more aware of what’s happening around us and how to stay positive under pressure,” Guerra said. “Playing regional cricket against the best in the West Indies really raised my standards.”
Guerra has clear ambitions of progressing as far as possible in the sport, with dreams of eventually representing the West Indies.
Fatima teammate Larell Guiseppi echoed similar sentiments, reflecting on how narrowly missing the final last year sharpened his focus and resilience.
“I thought it was a good experience. I learned to stay positive and when you are down to get back up as quickly as possible,” he said.
Having also competed at the regional level, he described facing the Caribbean’s top young players as both challenging and motivating.
“It was a great experience. Just seeing the level of cricket around the Caribbean told me where I am at and what I have to improve on,” Guiseppi said.
Eyes on the Final
With a clearer format, a settled squad, and the hunger born from unfinished business, the team enters the tournament with quiet confidence.
While the stated priority remains development, there is an unmistakable sense that this group believes it can go one step further.
This time, the goal is not just progress—but redemption.
