Tobago get Carib Beer Series match

TOBAGONIANS will get the opportunity of seeing the Trinidad and Tobago cricketers in action during the West Indies Cricket Board 2005 Carib Beer Series competition. Carib Brewery events and sponsorship manager Colin Murray confirmed yesterday, that Trinidad and Tobago will take on  Leeward Islands in their eighth round match at Shaw Park, Tobago, from March 4 to 7. The Tobago venue was preferred to the Wilson Road Recreation ground because of the clamour by Tobagonians for at least one regional First Class match per year.

And with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board hosting five home matches in the new season, Murray said, “it was only fair that Tobagonians get an opportunity to see the national team in action. “For the past three years, Tobago hosted a regional First Class match and they will welcome the chance to see and support the national team.” In 2002, Trinidad and Tobago played against the West Indies “B” at the Roxborough Sports Complex and then took on visiting Bangladesh at Shaw Park, last year. This year Kenya played against the locals at Shaw Park, which has been upgraded by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) over the last two years. TT will open the First Class season against Guyana at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva, from January 7 to 10.The Trinidadians will have home advantage for four matches in the first five rounds.

Our cricketers will take on defending champion Barbados at the Queen’s Park Oval in the second round from January 14 to 17, and meet Windward Islands at the same venue in the fourth round from January 28 to 31. Fans will next see the national cricketers in action at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, in the fifth round against Jamaica from February 4 to 7. West Indies players will miss the first three rounds of the series since they will be away in Australia, playing in the VB Triangular Series. Pakistan is the other team in this tournament. TT’s first away match will be against Leeward Islands during the third round from January 21 to 24.

And they will also play against Guyana from February 18 to 21, in Guyana; in the seventh round from February 25 to 28 against Barbados; in the ninth round against Windward Islands from March 11 to 14 and Jamaica in their 10th round match from March 18 to 21). Two years ago, following a game against India A, national coach  Phillip Simmons condemned Wilson Road Recreation ground, deeming it unsuitable,  and  the venue has been bypassed since. The Penal-Debe Regional Corporation plans to upgrade the facility and bring it up to the required standard.