Timroy Allen

One of the most dynamic talents at the Associate level, Timroy Allen has been one of USA's biggest match-winners since debuting in 2008, whether as a medium pacer with the new ball and a middle-overs spinner, or as a menacing finisher with the bat. However, he has often had difficulty staying on the field due to injury, work commitments or disagreements with the USACA management.

Born in Jamaica, Allen migrated to Orlando, Florida, in 2005, and after completing the ICC's four-year residency requirement, his mid 130-kph pace had him immediately fast-tracked into the USA senior team at age 21. He took 1 for 26 in eight overs on List A debut, against Barbados, and 11 days later, nabbed 5 for 7 against Suriname to kick off USA's undefeated championship run at the 2008 ICC Americas Division One.

Allen helped fuel USA past Canada to win the inaugural ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 championship in June 2010, executing a short-ball plan to Rizwan Cheema, who, at the time, was one of the most dangerous batsmen in Associate cricket. But, that August, he suffered a shoulder injury sustained while diving in the field in a WCL Division Four match in Italy, and was out of action for the next two years.

Allen made a sensational return, clubbing 72 not out off 43 balls against hosts Malaysia in USA's opening match of the 2012 WCL Division Four, and propelled USA's promotion to Division Three. In November 2013, he was named USA's vice-captain for the ICC World T20 Qualfier in the UAE. But a major fall-out with then coach Robin Singh, combined with his disillusionment over the USACA administration's treatment of players, resulted in Allen nearly giving up the game for good at age 26, choosing instead to focus on his family-owned pest-control business.

Spurred out of retirement in September 2015, when ICC Americas organised an open trial in Indianapolis, his undeniable talent made him an automatic pick for a combined squad that represented the region in the 2016 WICB Nagico Super50. Allen impressed enough to fetch a contract with Jamaica Tallawahs and was a consistent contributor in their 2016 CPL title-winning run. After a nearly three-year absence, he made himself available to play for USA once again and was picked in the team's squads for the Auty Cup and ICC WCL Division Four at Los Angeles in October 2016.
Peter Della Penna