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Barbados' triumphant under-19 cricketers have not even had a decent chance to bask in the glory of their regional three-day title.

It's back to business today for the opening round of the brief limited-overs championship that is played on a knockout basis.

After their unforgettable, tension-filled one-wicket triumph against Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, the Bajans returned to the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) where they spent the night having not `too big' celebrations that included cheerful singing of a few Barbadian songs.

They spent yesterday mainly resting and planning for their 50-overs-a-side match against Canada at the Melbourne club ground today.

The packed itinerary has given Barbados little time to recharge after the demands of playing five successive three-day matches with just a day's rest in between. Barbados, however, would have had the benefit of two additional off-days after winning their first two matches well inside the distance.

They now have to shift from three-day mode to fast-food cricket without a decent rest and such switches could sometimes present challenges.

"We knew all along that it was going to come very quickly. The guys were focused on it. We are actually looking forward to the One-day tournament," Barbados manager Clifton Phillips said yesterday.

"We think we have a pretty good all-round side and we are looking to do well."

Barbados were champions in the shorter form of the competition last season and are seeking to complete the double that eluded them in 1999. Back then, Ryan Hinds' team won the three-day competition by also beating Trinidad and Tobago in the final at Kensington Oval, but lost the One-day championship match against Jamaica.

There is no doubt that they will win today against a Canada team that finished bottom of their zone in the preliminaries of the three-day competition.

Since that phase of the competition ended on August 11, the Canadians have been inactive and it might have been a good idea to have them play against the Rest of Americas in the intervening period rather than doing very little.

Once Barbados predictably take care of the North Americans, they will have a semifinal match-up tomorrow against the winner of the match between the Leeward and Windward Islands at the Kensington Club ground. The final is set for Saturday at Melbourne.

During the three-day competition, Barbados remarkably maintained the same 11 throughout, but they will allow their three reserves – batsmen Joel Leacock and Dadrian Forde, along with fast bowling all-rounder Barrington Yearwood – to get a chance against Canada.

"We're going to rest one or two players. We've got one or two niggles at the moment," said coach Roddy Estwick.

"The key thing for us is to make sure that the three boys who have worked really hard being 12th,13th man and 14th man to give them a game."

The unrelated Smiths, wicket-keeper Jamal and off-spinner Jason have been bothered by soreness and are almost certain to sit out, along with opening batsman Renaldo Parris.

© Barbados Nation