Rampaul returns to TT cricket team

And discarded West Indies fast bower Mervyn Dillon will be making another attempt to catch the eyes of the West Indies selectors.

Both young Rampaul and the experienced Dillon were yesterday named on the the Trinidad and Tobago team for the upcoming President’s Trophy regional limited overs competition to be staged in Barbados and Guyana.

The 14-man squad was named after three trial matches — the Toyota Classic Series at the National Cricket Centre Ground in Balmain Couva.

Several players took the opportunity to register good performances with bat and ball and were rewarded with picks on the national team who are the holders of the President’s Trophy.

Both Rampaul and Dillon missed out in last year’s tournament in Guyana and Barbados through injuries but are now expected to play a key role in the team’s defence of their limited overs title.

The 20-year old, right arm fast bowler Rampaul has not played competitive cricket since July last year while Dillon played four matches in this year’s Carib Beer Series after returning from the VB Triangular Series with the West Indies.

Also making a return to the team are West Indies Test all rounder Dwayne Bravo and West Indies "A" team batsman Lendl Simmons who were also sidelined through injury.

West Indies left-arm spinner Dave "Tadpole" Mohammed, who missed out in the 2004 series because of suspension, has also made a return to the team.

Trinidad and Tobago will be led by West Indies batsman Daren Ganga, and also includes new Test wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, hard-hitting Jamaica-born batsman Ricardo Powell, and promising allrounders Sherwin Ganga and Richard Kelly.

Both Ganga and Kelly returned for the final two matches of the domestic Toyota Classic Series after completing successful professional stints in the minor leagues in England.

Former national fast bowler Giles Antoine will manage the team, while former West Indies wicketkeeper David Williams has been named as coach.

The team will enter a live-in camp at the Sir Frank Worrell Development Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva from Saturday to Wednesday.

The President’s Trophy begins October 3 in Barbados with the Final Four stage being contested in Guyana.

SQUAD: Daren Ganga (captain), Sherwin Ganga, , Ricardo Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Rayad Emrit, Dave Mohammed, Samuel Badree, Lendl Simmons, Gregory Mahabir, Dwayne Bravo, Richard Kelly, Mervyn Dillon, Rodney Sooklal, Ravi Rampaul.

Manager - Giles Antoine; Coach - David Williams.