One more trial match for national cricketers

Trinidad and Tobago’s cricket team for the upcoming regional tournament will be selected on  Wednesday at the conclusion of the final two-day trial match at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain. Dudnath Ramkessoon, chairman of the selection committee, said another two-day trial is being held because of the number of days (more than eight) which were lost due to inclement weather, injuries to players and non-availability of key players during the preparation period. The final 13-member squad will also depend on the players selected on the West Indies team for the VB triangular series in Australia.

“After the next two-day trial match, we will be in a better position to select the Trinidad and Tobago squad which will prepare for the first round match of the new season,” Ramkessoon said. “The West Indies team which will play in the VB Series will already have been named. That will allow us to make proper selection based on those who are available and who have performed creditably in the trials and the Pizza Hut/Gerry Gomez North-South Classic. All factors will be taken into consideration,” he said. TT will take on Guyana in the Carib Beer Series first round match at the NCC, Balmain from January 7 to 10.

Captain Daren Ganga will lead Team “A” while allrounder Dwayne Bravo will be at the helm of Team “B” in the final trial. Opener Tishan Maraj, Imran Jan and allrounder Reyad Emrit were not included in the two teams because of injuries. But Ramkessoon indicated that they will monitor the player’s rehabilitation and progress and then decide whether they are ready to play again. Maraj suffered from cramps on Thursday while Jan was struck on his toe by off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth. Emrit is suffering from lower back pains and was sidelined from the Pizza Hut/ Gerry Gomez Classic and the last three-day trial match. Commenting on the performances of the players in the just concluded three-day trial match at Gilbert Park, California, Ramkessoon expressed satisfaction that the players are finally getting big scores.

“It’s encouraging to see the players getting bigger scores. We had three days of good cricket weather. And it was nice to see some of batsmen showing form. The bowlers also got runs and it is very encouraging to know that they will make runs in the lower order,” he said. “Even Ravi (Rampaul) got a big score which shows that he is fit and is determined to do well. Rishi Bachan also bowled well and got five wickets in the first innings and then showed that he can bat too. We saw his performances at the youth level. And we know what he can do. “With his batting, he has shown that he is working on his all-round game. Hopefully all the players will take full advantage of the next trial to get among the runs and wickets. We want to select our best possible team for the regional four-day competition,” Ramkessoon said.

Team “A”: Daren Ganga (captain), Imran Khan, Gibran Mohammed, Gregory Mahabir, Lendl Simmons, Richard Kelly, Dave Mohammed, Amit Jaggernauth, Mervyn Dillon, Kyron Lynch, Rishard Harris, Aliba Alert, and Kastri Singh.

Team “B”: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Sherwin Ganga, Earnil Ryan, Ricardo Powell, Kenton Thompson, Shazam Babwah, Dinesh Ramdin, Samuel Badree, Brent Harriot, Rishi Bachan, Rodney Sooklal, Theodore Modeste and Brent Lezama.  All players are asked to report before 8.45 am on both days.