Rain keeps TT cricketers indoors

While inclement weather has been the major setback for the national cricketers over the last two weekends, they have to consider themselves very fortunate to have the modern indoor facilities of the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre at Balmain. The centre provides the players with the ideal setting to fully prepare physically as well as mentally and technically for the upcoming regional championship. Yesterday was another day indoors as the proposed limited-overs match at Gilbert Park, California had to be abandoned. But the players were at it from as early as 8.30 am with sports psychologist Rudolph Ottley interacting with the squad. The sessions have become an integral part of the preparation especially with the traumatic experience of Earnil Ryan, Samuel Felix and Jonathan Augustus who were involved in a vehicular accident which claimed the lives of two persons recently.

Ryan and Felix resumed training but Augustus will take a much longer time before he overcomes the tragic experience. Ottley is counselling the players and trying to help them to rebuild their mental strength and positive attitude to life situations. Both trainer Gerald Garcia and coach David Williams were also involved in yesterday’s workout which went until 1 pm. They got the players to think and react to different combinations and drills at the Angostura Indoor Nets. Garcia disclosed that the players were deeply involved and handled the many challenging scenarios well. “They really enjoyed the sessions and drills. It was not the regular type of drills because they had to get around obstacles and do them in a certain time period. “The drills were planned so as to challenge them and for them to think out situations. It was a mental challenge for the players and we wanted to see how they will react and how quickly they can solve challenges,” he said.

Williams also pushed them through the batting and bowling routines which were followed by tactical discussions. The Second Trial match last weekend was completely washed out and the national selectors will be forced to organise more matches before the Carib Beer Series starts on January 7. TT will clash with Guyana in the first round fixture at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain. The players will now be involved in their respective South and North teams as they prepare for the Pizza-Hut Gerry Gomez Memorial Classic which starts on Thursday at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. The South team will train at Balmain from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm with manager Giles Antoine conducting the session. North’s coach Jeffrey Guillen had his players working out at the Queen’s Park Indoor nets yesterday afternoon. They will be there again today.