President’s Cup wide open

No team— not even reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago nor hosts Barbados— has distinguished itself as the odds-on favourite in the competition, likely to gain an 11th hour sponsorship from a leading American fast food franchise.

On the opening day, TT tackle Windward Islands at the Windward Sports Club in Lucas Street in the eastern parish of St Philip, Barbados face Guyana at the North Stars Social and Cultural Club in Crab Hill in the northernmost parish of St Lucy, and Jamaica meet Leeward Islands at Banks Brewery on the outskirts of the capital.

Last year, TT clinched the title without most, if not all, of their major stars. Of that number, international batting kingpin Brian Lara and left-arm chinaman bowler Dave Mohammed will again not be in the line-up.

The presence however, of Dwayne Bravo, Mervyn Dillon, and Ravi Rampaul should reinforce the TT bowling, but the two-island republic will hope that their players can again show the level of teamwork that transformed the hopelessness before last year's competition into a golden moment.

In this form of the game, their opponents can never be taken lightly, since the Windwards were surprising semi-finalists in last year's competition before losing to Guyana.

As always, the Windwards seem well covered in the bowling attack, but the batting will, as usual, be the key, and rely heavily on two men— left-handed opener Devon Smith and long-standing wicketkeeper/batsman Junior Murray.

The air of invincibility that Barbados built up over the last few seasons has quickly evaporated over the last year, following defeat in last year's semi-final to TT and subsequent last place in this year's Carib Beer Series.

The last minute withdrawal of West Indies left-arm fast-medium bowler Pedro Collins would not have helped their confidence, but the Barbadians will hope that their knowledge of the pitches, and the other comforts of home advantage will help them reach the Final Four.

Of all the teams, Guyana would have been the Barbadians' last choice to face in the opening round of matches, since it's always a hard struggle for them to overcome them, especially with a middle-order that boasts Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, and Narsingh Deonarine.

Guyana's Achilles Heel could be their attack with Reon King, Mahendra Nagamootoo, and Neil McGarrell at the heart. This triumvirate has struggled in recent times, and there were questions at home about their selection, but this may be enough to motivate them into solid performances.

Jamaica too, will be looking to rebound, after failing to make the Final Four last year, but will have to overcome playing away from home. When one zone and the Final Four of the competition were hosted in their homeland between 1997 and 2003, they were always in the mix-up.

Last year, they failed to come to terms with the conditions in Guyana, and missed the boat, but they remain a well rounded side, with plenty of cover and experience in all departments, and this should make them a serious threat, despite the loss of Chris Gayle to the ICC Super Series in Australia.

Leewards, their opponents, also failed to reach the Final Four last year, and with one of the least experienced sides in the competition, they will face a tough time trying to reach the Final Four.

Leewards have always shown enormous fighting qualities though, and it would not be surprising if they make some of their doubters eat their words when it is all over, but captain Sylvester Joseph, vice captain Runako Morton, Omari Banks, and Wilden Cornwall will all have a big role to play in this.

Squads:

BARBADOS (from): Courtney Browne (captain), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Ian Bradshaw, Shirley Clarke, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Ryan Hinds, Alcindo Holder, Martin Nurse, Floyd Reifer, Dale Richards, Dwayne Smith, Kurt Wilkinson.

GUYANA (from): Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Shivnarine (captain), Krishna Arjune, Darwan Christian, Esuan Crandon, Lennox Cush, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Rayon Griffith, Reon King, Neil McGarrell, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Ryan Ramdass, Ramnaresh Sarwan.

JAMAICA (from): Wavell Hinds (captain), Carlton Baugh, Alton Beckford, Dave Bernard, Jr., Gareth Breese, Danza Hyatt, Wavell Hinds, Tamar Lambert, Xavier Marshall, Nikita Miller, Brenton Parchment, Daren Powell, Andrew Richardson, Marlon Samuels, Dwight Washington.

LEEWARDS ISLANDS (from): Sylvester Joseph (captain), Omari Banks, Wilden Cornwall, Shane Jeffers, Kerry Jeremy, Sylvester Joseph, Alderman Lesmond, Junie Mitchum, Runako Morton, Maxford Pipe, Curtis Roberts, Carl Simon, Gavin Tonge, Austin Richards, Jr., Tonito Willett.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (from): Daren Ganga (captain), Samuel Badree, Dwayne Bravo, Mervyn Dillon, Reyad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga, Sanjiv Gooljar, Richard Kelly, Gregory Mahabir, Ricardo Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Lendl Simmons, Rodney Sooklal.

WINDWARD ISLANDS (from): Rawl Lewis (captain), Deighton Butler, Craig Emmanuel, Ronald Etienne, Sergio Fedee, Olanzo Jackson, Alvin La Feuille, Mervyn Matthew, Junior Murray, Nelon Pascal, Kenroy Peters, Darren Sammy, Liam Sebastien, Devon Smith.