The Barbados Pride are gearing up to be full strength ahead of a mammoth West Indies Championship clash against five-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars, beginning Thursday at Province.

The expected return of Windies Test captain Jason Holder and fast bowler Kemar Roach are expected to provide a boost to the team fresh off a massive 148 runs loss to Trinidad and Tobago.  With seven matches played, the Pride who lead the standings with 116 points, 31 ahead of Guyana Amazon Warriors who played to a draw with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

“It is a big game (Guyana vs Barbados) and that is our big focus. We have to perform. The loss in Trinidad and Tobago was disappointing. We should have done better,” Pride head coach Emmerson Trotman to the Barbados Nation News.

“Trinidad utilised the conditions better than we did, but we have to put that behind us,” he added. 

The two have accounted for the last seven titles between them but it is the Jaguars that have claimed the trophy in ever edition since 2014.  In other matches of the round, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will battle the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago, and the Leeward Islands Hurricanes will lock horns with the Jamaica Scorpions at the Viv Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua & Barbuda.