Lara, Bravo expected to face Bajans

WORLD record holder Brian Lara and Dwayne Bravo are expected to strengthen the Trinidad and Tobago team for their crucial final round Carib Beer Series regional cricket match against Barbados at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain starting on Friday. Bravo missed the regional matches against Jamaica at Shaw Park, Tobago and Leeward Islands at the Salem Park, Montserrat, because of injury. But   has taken the field  for his club Queen’s Park in the domestic NCL Division One last weekend, and the midweek competitions.

Lara has not played any competitive cricket since the VB Series where West  Indies were ousted by Australia and Pakistan. Trinidad and Tobago, led by Daren Ganga, will be seeking to whip Barbados for a second time in the series, to clinch a place in the Carib Challenge Trophy with a chance to wrest the US$5,000 prize. Lendl Simmons who struck an even 200 against Jamaica at Shaw Park, Tobago, will miss this final round match after having surgery for  appendicitis.

Skipper Ganga has been in good batting form lately, following his 113 against Jamaica with 265 against the Leewards. And with Gregory Mahabir scoring his maiden First-Class century and Lara and Bravo back, things look bleak for the Bajans who have been badly beaten throughout this season. Bravo’s availability has been confirmed by selection panel chairman Dudnath Ramkissoon.

The Trinidad and Tobago team will be chosen from: Daren Ganga (capt), Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Bravo, Gregory Mahabir, Ricardo Powell, Brian Lara, Imran Khan, Richard Kelly, Rayad Emrit, Dave Mohammed, Mervyn Dillon, Amit Jaggernauth, Samuel Badree and Rishi Bachan.