Manager Antoine worried about TT batting

GILES ANTOINE, Trinidad and Tobago’s senior cricket team manager, is worried about the performance and form of the frontline batsmen who failed on the opening day of the specially-arranged two-day practice match against W-Connection Wanderers at Gilbert Park, California on Monday. Also worried are coach David Williams and captain Daren Ganga who spent 16 minutes and faced eight deliveries before medium pacer Atiba Alert trapped him leg before wicket for one run. Both openers Sherwin Ganga and Lendl Simmons were already back in the pavilion without scoring. Sherwin spent eleven minutes and faced six balls before his offstump was disturbed by Alert who together with Theodore Modeste wreaked havoc on a pitch which provided some encouragement for the quickies.

Middle-order batsmen Ricardo Powell (11) and Shazam Babwah (4) did not last long and they were soon joined by Samuel Badree (6) with the TT team tottering at 22 for five wickets. Powell batted for 34 minutes and hit one boundary off 21 balls while Babwah also struck a four off four balls during his short eight-minute stay. Both were dismissed in similar fashion off the bowling of the fired-up Modeste, caught by wicketkeeper Joel Pamphille at 19 and 22. Antoine has taken over the job from Omar Khan who was forced to quit the post after differences with the TTCB’s executive officers. “Based on the way the players batted and the responsibility which goes with those positions, there is cause for concern. They (players) know that they have to do better and to play with more seriousness,” he said.

However, the former national fast bowler batted for his players. “Mistakes made could be as a result of practising at the indoor net where the bounce is true. There the players played their shots without too much concern about the bounce. But on the turf  pitches, the adjustments have to be made. Players must understand their roles and try to adapt to the challenges which they would face during the competition.” While the frontline batting specialists failed, there was enough encouragement from the manner in which wicketkeeper Dinesh Ramdin and leftarm spinner Dave Mohammed applied themselves to add respectability to the team’s overall first innings score.

TT’s last regional four-day title was secured twenty years ago when Antoine played an integral part in winning the Shell Shield—  emblem of regional First Class supremacy. Antoine disclosed that the squad will have today off  but will re-assemble tomorrow morning at the Inshan Ali Park, Preysal for a two-hour net session. Later in the day they will move to the Sir Frank Worrell Development Centre where they will spend the next four days.

The Guyana team is scheduled to arrive tonight and will reside at the Le Sportel, Dr Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence, Macoya. Yesterday, after a delayed start, only fourteen overs were possible before the luncheon interval. W-Connection Wanderers resumed at 99 for eight wickets and were bowled out for 138. Alert made 24 (3x4s) while Andre Browne was undefeated on 25 (2x4s). Rain washed out the rest of the day’s play.

Final Scores:
TT 174 (D. Ramdin 67 not out, D. Mohammed 32; T.Modeste 3 for 27, A.Alert 2 for 4, B.Leazama 2 for 19, S. Gooljar 2 for 47) and 15 without loss vs W-CONNECTION WANDERERS 138 (N.Bideshi 38, L. Ramsuchit 24, A.Browne 25 not out, A.Alert 24; R.Bachan 2 for 16, D.Mohammed 2 for 30, R.Kelly 2 for 16, A.Jaggernauth 1 for 23).