Win will boost TT cricketers

VICTORY against the Windward Islands in two one-day matches tomorrow and Sunday will be an important indicator of Trinidad and Tobago’s readiness for the upcoming regional championships in Guyana. “It is important that we win by a significant margin and all our players make useful contributions with the bat and the ball,” said TT team manager Omar Khan yesterday. And despite a rash of injuries to key players and several practice matches ruined by heavy rain, Khan is hopeful that the team selected to play against the Windwards would acquit themselves handily. He is counting on the return of West Indies allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Jamaican Ricardo Powell to the national team who are reportedly back to full fitness after being bothered by niggling injuries since their return from England two weeks ago. The duo along with star West Indies batsman Brian Lara and veteran fast bowler Mervyn Dillon were members of the victorious team that beat England in the ICC Champions Trophy final at The Oval in London recently.

Khan said yesterday that both Lara and Dillon are also bothered by slight injuries and a medical report should indicate today whether they will play against the Windward Islands in the two matches. Last Saturday, spinner Rodney Sooklal and solid middle-order batsman Shazam Babwah suffered injuries and have been ordered to rest and a question mark hangs over their fitness for inclusion on the national team which leaves for Guyana on October 16. Sooklal hurt his left thumb trying to field off his own bowling while Babwah pulled a groin muscle and hobbled off the pitch in the rain-affected practice match at the National Cricket Centre at Balmain. But Khan remains optimistic that the other players in contention can fill the breech. He said that the Ganga bothers, Daren who will captain the TT side and his younger brother Sherwin will lead a batting line-up which includes Bravo, Powell, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, Lendl Simmons and Gregory Mahabir. Those in contention for the bowling places are lively fast bowlers Richard Kelly, Imran Jan, Reyaad Emrit, Theodore Modeste and spinner Amrit Jaggernauth.

“It is the final opportunity for the players to fine-tune their preparation in a competitive environment. They have done all that is necessary with regards to fitness and theory. They need to put their act together on the field of play,” said Khan. And he stressed that victory will boost their confidence going into the regional tournament but warned that the Windwards are no pushovers. “They have a very experienced side and are in the competition so we should expect some good cricket from them,” said Khan. Off spinner Rawl Lewis will lead the team with hard-hitting opening batsman Devon Smith as his deputy. Also in the side is promising fast bowler Darren Sammy, a member of the victorious WI team at the Champions Trophy competition. Wicketkeeper is Junior Murray who is no rabbit with the bat. The Windwards are expected in Trinidad and Tobago today for the two matches, starting at 9.30 am at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain.

WINDWARDS SQUAD: Rawle Lewis (captain), Devon Smith (vice-captain), Deighton Butler, Craig Emmanuel, John Eugene, Orlanzo Jackson, Lyndon James, Alvin La Fuille, Junior Murray, Kenroy Peters, Darren Sammy, Liam Sebastien, Shane Shillingford, Fernix Thomas.