Under-19s want to do ‘double’

Top Trinidad and Tobago batsman Lendl Simmons will miss today’s semi-final clash against Jamaica in the TCL Group Regional Cricket Challenge which continues in Guyana.

Simmons who scored a century against the Windwards in the opening league clash last week has sprained an ankle and will miss the encounter for precautionary reasons. However coach of the team Anthony Gray yesterday did not rule Simmons out. “He could still play. However we have already qualified for the semi-finals and we are not going to risk further injury. He will be rested for this match against the Jamaicans,” Gray said in a telephone interview from Georgetown. Trinidad and Tobago stormed into the “semis” after convincing victories over the Windwards and the Rest of America. The men from the land of the Hummingbird have already secured the limited overs title —- the first regional Under-19 title for Trinidad and Tobago since 1987.

Yesterday Gray prepared a practice facility at the National Park in Georgetown for final preparations going into the final round of the preliminaries. “The practice facilities here are not really good, so we had to be innovative and use the National Park. We were able to prepare two wickets and get the bowlers and batters out for a bit of meaningful practice,” Gray said. “All the guys are confident that we can win the title and make it a double and they are all very eager to finish the job that have started so excellently. The guys are in a joyous mood and are rallying around one another,” the former top fast bowler said. “I have however warned the guys about complacency and have told them that they are Trinidadians and it is easy for them to relax. As Trinis we tend to relax very easy and this is not good after such an excellent start to the championships.” Gray will know this only too well as during his four years with the national youth team they have finished second on three occasions and were knocked out in the semi-finals on another. Last year after dominating the series in Jamaica from ball one they faltered on the final day and went down to Barbados by one-wicket in the final. The fixture today takes place at the LBI ground in Georgetown and although it will be only of academic interest to Trinidad, Gray said he still wants to win convincingly to keep the momentum going.