TT cricketers ready for Windwards

The team worked out at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, and apart from an extremely intense session which was carried out by coach David Williams, manager Khan also conducted a team building session. The players are preparing for the Carib Beer Cricket Challenge semi-final against the Windward Islands which begins at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, from 10 am today. According to Khan the players were taken through a rigorous fitness test which revealed all the players are fit and raring to go.

But the Trinidad and Tobago team will be without triple world record holder Brian Lara. Khan said the current crop of players are well aware of the roles they will have to play on the team. “Obviously any team without Lara would be severely weakened, but the players know that their contribution will be critical if TT should succeed in the four-day match.”

Windwards coach Ian Alleyne said his players will be ready for anything the home team will come with.

He said his team did not work out on the Guaracara pitch but most of his players have played there and should therefore have no problems today. “Our team has had the better of Trinidad and Tobago in the recent past and judging from that we could be favoured for the win” Alleyne said.

Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board vice president Dudnath Ramkissoon told Newsday that most of the players have been involved in active cricket and therefore they will be prepared. He said West Indies opening batsman Daren Ganga will be back in the team along with talented allrounder Dwayne Bravo and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin following the tour of New Zealand.

The in-form Lendl Simmons is also back from a successful stint with the West Indies “A” Team against England “A” in St Kitts and Antigua recently, along with Richard Kelly.

Teams: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (from) — Daren Ganga (capt), Lendl Simmons, Sherwin Ganga, Adrian Barath, Jason Mohammed, Gibran Mohammed, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Richard Kelly, Dave Mohammed, Mervyn Dillon, Amit Jaggernauth, Rayad Emrit and Samuel Badree.

WINDWARD ISLANDS (from) — Rawl Lewis (capt), Deighton Butler, Miles Bascombe, Rommel Currency, Kenroy Peters, Junior Murray, Devon Smith, Dennis George, Craig Emmanuel, Alvin La Feuille, Darren Sammy, Jean Paul and Liam Sebastien.