TT, Windwards clash in Tobago

Khan, who was contacted at the venue during their final training session yesterday, noted: "The guys are in high spirits and there are no injury concerns. They are very confident and eager to get on the field."

But Khan said there have been overcast conditions in the sister isle and the ground is still wet in a few areas.

Trinidad and Tobago earned first innings points from last weekend’s Sixth Round encounter against Guyana at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre while the Windwards had the misfortune of a complete washout against the Leeward Islands at Mindoo Phillip Park, St Lucia.

Daren Ganga’s team is joint top of the table with Barbados on 24 points while the Windwards are rooted at the bottom of the six-team standings with ten. Ganga will be trying to carry the hosts to their second win of the season after earning full points against the Jamaicans earlier this month.

The team will surely be expecting a lot from youthful openers Lendl Simmons and Tishan Maraj, who have failed to make any meaningful scores this season.

With star batsman Brian Lara resting an injured knee, a lot of emphasis will be placed on the openers, as well as Ganga, brother Sherwin and WI players Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin.

The bowling, for the third straight match, should revolve around all-rounders Bravo, Richard Kelly and Rayad Emrit, in addition to spinners Sanjiv Gooljar and Dave Mohammed.

But the Windwards would not be any pushovers for this weekend’s contest, with recalled West Indies leg-spinner Rawl Lewis at the helm.

Lewis would be looking to prove to the supporters that he is definitely ready for what will be, according to chairman of selectors Joey Carew, a lengthy run with the WI team.

Evergreen wicket-keeper Junior Murray is the only veteran in the line-up, with the likes of Windies players Devon Smith (opening batsman) and Deighton Butler (left-arm pacer) hoping to put in a good showing before leaving with the regional team for New Zealand.

Other key players for the Windwards are opener Rommel Currency, all-rounders Darren Sammy and Liam Sebastien, and left-arm pace bowler Kenroy Peters.

First ball is 10 am.

Teams -

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (from): Daren Ganga (capt); Lendl Simmons, Tishan Maraj, Dwayne Bravo, Sherwin Ganga, Denesh Ramdin, Richard Kelly, Rayad Emrit, Dave Mohammed, Sanjiv Gooljar, Imran Khan, Amit Jaggernauth, Gregory Mahabir.

WINDWARD ISLANDS (from): Rawl Lewis (capt), Denis George, Junior Murray, Jean Paul, Devon Smith, Deighton Butler, Rommel Currency, Craig Emmanuel, Alvin LaFeuille, Hyron Shallow, Darren Sammy, Liam Sebastien, Kenroy Peters.