Injury scare forces Bravo out one-dayer

AN INJURY scare has forced leading West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo out of today’s first of a series of matches to prepare the national team for the upcoming regional one-day championship in Guyana. Omar Khan, manager of the Trinidad and Tobago team confirmed yesterday that the 20-year-old turned up for training yesterday at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain but complained of a thigh strain. “We decided that instead of risking further injury which could turn out to be very serious, it was best for Bravo to rest his injured thigh,” said Khan. He however did not rule out the exciting cricketer playing in the second of the three-match competition tomorrow designed to get the team match-ready for the West Indies limited overs competition. “If he feels fit by all means he will play,” said Khan yesterday.

The national team led by Daren Ganga will contest honours against a Trinidad and Tobago XI which captured a Los Angeles invitational 20-overs tournament last August in the US. Khan said yesterday he was confident that the team, led by former national opener Suruj Ragoonath will engage the national side in a very competitive match. “It will be very serious cricket with several cash prizes at stake,” said Khan He said that the 50-overs affairs are especially important since players will be asked to adhere to the recent rules adopted by the West Indies Cricket Board regarding the implementation of penalty points. Also white balls will be used; players will wear coloured clothing and white pads; and there will be a black sightscreen. “We are trying to synchronise everything to conform to match conditions which we expect to meet in Guyana for the first phase of the regional competition,” said Khan.

He said this weekend, when fine weather is expected at the National Cricket Centre, both batsmen and bowlers will challenged to play good cricket with emphasis on a “one-day match scenario.” “For instance, bowlers will have to be conscious of the fielding restrictions in the first 15 overs and will have to bowl a particular line and length. Also at the death, they will have to do their best to contain and ‘choke’ the batsmen,” said Khan. He said the date for the third and final match of the series has not as yet been decided since the Windward Islands cricket team is expected in Trinidad on Thursday for two matches before leaving for Guyana. Also, TT players who are employed must apply for the time off but he is optimistic that the contest will come off before the national team leaves on October 14.

TEAMS
National Team: Daren Ganga (captain), Imran Jan, Gregory Mahabir, Dwayne Bravo, Jonathan Augustus, Samuel Badree, Dinesh Ramdin, Reyad Emrit, Richard Kelly, Rodney Sooklal, Devindra Krishna, Rishaad Harris, Theodore Modeste, Petrock Nicholas
T&T XI: Suruj Ragoonath (captain), Shazam Babwah, Tishan Maraj, Imran Khan, Lendl  Simmons, Samuel Felix, Brent Lezama, Gibran Mohamnmed, Dave Mohammed, Earnil Ryan, Atiba Alert, Brent Harriot, Sean Siloch, Nicholas Ramjass.