Friday cricket a possibility from 2004

“One thing that is missing from our cricketers is that ability to concentrate for long periods and this comes from the fact that they only play two consecutive days of cricket in the Carib National league.” This is the opinion of second vice-president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Dudnath Ramkeesoon yesterday.

Ramkeesoon who is also the chairman of the national league said: “Our standard of cricket in the national league is very high but there is something missing. When quizzed further the former national player said: “Our players lack the ability to concentrate for long periods and this causes a problem when they graduate to the regional series. “You cannot really blame the players, it is the system that allows only two consecutive days cricket for these guys and this will not help in their preparation for the long haul of the regional series.”

The national cricket team have not won the regional series for the past 18 years, while the Under-19 team have failed to capture a league title since 1987. Ramkeesoon added that the national league committee is looking at ways to improve the playing time. “We are thinking of getting the players to play three consecutive days cricket, which we think will help them tremendously. This will mean having to play cricket on a Friday and through the weekend. This is not so easily done, as one has to take into account whether or not the players will get time off from their work to play the game. “However we are still hoping to work something out with the clubs to get this problem ironed out.”

Manager of the national team Omar Khan agreed with Ramkeesoon and said the idea was a magnificent one. “That will be great for cricket in Trinidad and Tobago and will definitely help the players. Over the past three seasons I have noticed that the players haven’t been able to concentrate for long and this has caused us to fail at the regional level.” Khan however warned that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) just cannot take that decision alone. “The committee must sit down with the clubs and get them to buy into it. They will in turn discuss it with their membership and see how its goes. If the guys agree and the games are carded from the Friday then no one can complain.” Khan ended by saying that Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket will be better off with such a move.