Simmons ruled out WI one-day series

TRINIDAD and Tobago cricketers were handed another major blow yesterday when middle order batsman Lendl Simmons was ruled out of the upcoming regional one-day tournament in Guyana. Simmons joined a growing list of top players who have been forced to pull out of the national squad because of injury which has seriously decimated their chances of advancing from the first stage of the competition. Dundnath Ramkeesoon, chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago selectors said yesterday he had been informed that young Simmons, a stylish right-handed batsman was seriously injured in a vehicular accident on Sunday night in Arima. “I was in contact with his family and was told he was hurt pretty badly which necessitated him being kept overnight at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital,” said Ramkeesoon. He said he was informed that Simmons, cousin of former national allrounder Philip Simmons, now coaching Zimbabwe had lost several teeth in the smashup and was expected to undergo further tests yesterday at the hospital.

Further bad news was delivered to the cricketers yesterday when another day of heavy rainfall in central ruled out what would have been the first 50-overs  practice match against the Windward Islands at the National Cricket Centre Ground in Balmain, Couva. Cricket Board officials, who are hosting the Windward Islands hope for better weather today to allow the waterlogged ground to drain off and dry and enable back-to-back matches tommorow and Monday. The unfortunate accident involving Simmons adds to the woes of the team management who have had to do without the services of West Indies captain Brian Lara, veteran fast bowler Mervyn Dillon, allrounder Dwayne Bravo and middle-order batsman Shazam Babwah. Only on Thursday, Bravo tore a hamstring while playing in a charity match organised by the University of the West Indies in Barbados to assist students from Grenada, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands who have been affected by Hurricane Ivan. Bravo has been told to rest for three weeks. Along with Lara, Ricardo Powell and Dillon, the 21-year-old allrounder were members of the victorious West Indies team at the recent ICC Champions Trophy competition in England.

Yesterday Ramkeesoon lamented the loss of the players but insisted that it presented a valuable chance for the lesser known players in the squad to raise the level of their game and make a name for themselves. “It may be a good thing for them that the stars are missing so that they can assume greater responsibility in the team and play to the best of their abilities,” said Ramkeesoon. Yesterday national captain Daren Ganga said that the spate of injuries has not put added pressure on him to score runs and lead from the front. “I take it as a challenge to do well and lead the young team. I want to ensure that the team plays as a unit and as long as each individual gives of their best we can be successful,” Ganga said. The West Indies opener has two high-quality Test centuries to his name, both scored against world champions Australia. He said he is satisfied with the work he has put in over the past season and is looking forward to the one-day tournament. Only on Sunday he top-scored in leading the Rest-of-the-Caribbean team against a Guyana selection in a benefit match in New York, USA.

Guyana were all out for 150 in their 40 overs and Ganga hit 33 as the Rest of the Caribbean knocked off the winning runs with one over the spare. And manager of the Windwards team former stylish opening batsman Lockhart Sebastien yesterday confidently predicted that his team, which he described as a blend of youth and experience, could win the regional one-day title. “Everybody has a chance in one-day cricket. We have a good allround team and we are hoping for the best in Guyana,” Sebastien said. He has great faith in captain Rawle Lewis to lead the team to the crown assisted by West Indies player Darren Sammy, a member of the winning WI team at the Champions Trophy tournament; veteran wicketkeeper Junior Murray and exciting young opening batsman Devon Smith who plays for the regional Test team. Sebastien also noted the value of Fernix Thomas to the team having taken 30 wickets in the last Carib Beer regional competition earlier this year; and youngsters Craig Emmanuel and Kenroy Peters who have both represented West Indies at Under-19 level in recent past. He also has high hopes for Liam Sebastien, another Under-19 regional batsman, left arm spinner Deighton Butler and the experienced John Eugene.