TT cricket captain delighted at selection

TRINIDAD and Tobago cricket captain Daren Ganga expressed delight yesterday at being included in a 25-man West Indies training squad to prepare for a triangular limited-overs tournament in Australia. “I am happy to be part of the camp. I am looking forward to improving my game and sharpening my skills,” said the 25-year-old batsman yesterday in a telephone interview. Ganga was among six Trinidad and Tobago players called by the regional selectors for the three-week camp. The others are West Indies captain Brian Lara, allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Ricardo Powell; Ganga’s younger brother Sherwin and promising wicket-keeper/batsman Dinesh Ramdin. Yesterday Ganga described his recall to the West Indies squad as a reward for all the hard work he has been doing to get himself back in the eyes of the selectors.

“I always felt I was in contention to get my place back on the West Indies side because I have done the business in the past.  But I had lost some form and confidence but I have worked the problems out,” Ganga said. Leading a bunch of young, inexperienced players, the right-hander also showed his leadership skills by guiding the Trinidad and Tobago team to victory in the recent President’s Cup regional limited overs tournament. And he said his run of solid scores, outstanding fielding and leadership have combined to earn  him a chance to force his way back into the West Indies team which travels to Australia before playing South Africa and Pakistan in the Caribbean. And although his best Test performances have been when he batted at No three — two consecutive centuries against Australia at Bourda in Guyana and at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain last year — he say he has no qualms if offered the opening slot.

“It is always a challenge to open the innings but you are more vulnerable since the ball moves around mush more. But I prefer to remain flexible although my best batting has been one-down,” said Ganga. During the recent regional one-day tournament Ganga batted lower down in the order which he said afforded him the opportunity to assess the match situation, better and shape the team’s innings rallying his team-mates around him. He said he was especially proud of his brother Sherwin who distinguished himself as one of the most promising young players in the Caribbean with a string of outstanding performances with bat and ball in the President’s Cup. “I always knew Sherwin was a talented player and it was just a matter of time before he showed his qualities.

Without the distraction of university studies he will certainly make use of the opportunity with me at his side,” said the elder Ganga. He said the brothers earlier in the season sat down and planned their objectives for the season and have complemented each other throughout Ganga was also full of praise for Ramdin who he described as “a wonderful player who understands the game and tries to out-think his opponent. “He has a bright future ahead of him and will be using the camp to horne his skills and take his game to a higher level,” said Ganga. He said Ramdin, former captain of the regional Under-19 team showed his true worth behind the stumps and in several “pressure situations” during the successful TT campaign in the limited-overs championships.