Mantra helps TT

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s young cricket team yesterday practised for the first time since arriving in Barbados on Monday for the semi-final of the President’s Cup regional limited overs tournament. Omar Khan, manager of the team said that the squad’s luggage, left behind in Guyana finally arrived early yesterday which allowed the players to participate in a full training session at the Police Sports Club Ground. And he said he was very impressed with the showing in the nets of several players who are expected to play a key role if Trinidad and Tobago are to advance to the final of the one-day championship on Sunday at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Khan, in a telephone interview from the Silver Rock Hotel, said Jamaican Ricardo Powell was striking the ball well as was captain Daren Ganga and his younger brother Sherwin.

“The bowlers also had a good session under coach David Williams. They are just fine-tuning their preparation for the first of two finals,” said Khan. He said the players were getting accustomed to the hot Barbadian weather which he estimated was much warmer than Guyana and were consuming lots of liquids and replenishing drinks. And the niggling injuries of hard-hitting allrounder Richard Kelly who injured his left hand on Sunday against the Leeward Islands in Uitvlught and the recurrence of a groin injury to Shazam Babwah were being treated. “We expect to have a fully fit squad on Thursday for the semi-final barring any unforeseen circumstances,” said Khan yesterday. He said the players are being motivated by a mantra which is being used to get them into the right frame of mind to prevail over a strong Barbados team playing in front of their home crowd.

The mantra drilled into the youngsters is: “When the tide of your nation is in your hands/Show them what you got inside.” “You must remember that this is a very young side and you have to keep them focussed. They have done well so far and are eager to finish the job,” said Khan. “They are conscious of the fact that they have overwhelmed the odds by reaching the semi-finals when everyone else said they could not, so they have a point to prove,” the manager said. Today another intensive session is planned with batting, bowling and fielding exercises, this time at the 3Ws Oval which will be their last practice before the crucial encounter against the Barbadians, runners-up last year. The homesters have already copped two regional competitions and are heavily favoured to score an historic hat-trick.

But the Trinidad and Tobago team, missing several star players including star batsman Brian Lara, allrounder Dwayne Bravo and fast bowler Mervyn Dillon have shown extrordinary character and determination in the first phase of the competition last week in Guyana. First they whipped Barbados in the opening match and followed it up with victories against star-studded Jamaica and the surprising Leeward islands. They were however beaten by defending champions Guyana and the consistent Windward Islands regarded as the best fielding side in the tournament. Khan said another team effort should be enough to overcome the Barbadians and make a claim for the US $10,000 first prize and trophy. And the adulation of an expectant nation.