POINTE-A-PIERRE, Trinidad, (CMC) - Repeat Carib Beer Cup champions Barbados may have to work extra hard to complete an unprecedented seventh victory in the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series when they face Trinidad & Tobago in the final preliminary round, starting at Guaracara Park, today.
Runaway championship leaders Barbados have the maximum 72 points from victories in all of their previous six matches and will be looking to become the first team to win all of their preliminary matches in the West Indies first-class championship, since a two-tiered format was introduced three years ago.
Two years ago, Jamaica missed out on winning all seven preliminary matches when their first match against Windward Islands at St George’s ended in a draw.
T&T, joint second with Jamaica and needing a favourable result to gain a place in the semifinals of the Carib Beer International Challenge, are likely to be boosted with the return of West Indies captain Brian Lara, batsman Ricardo Powell, fast bowler Mervyn Dillon and unorthodox left-arm spin bowler Dave Mohammed.
Anxious for Lara to play, T&T have delayed trimming their squad of 16 to allow the batting star time to have a fitness test this morning. The left-handed batting genius is reportedly suffering with a niggling injury to one of his knees.
The Jamaica-born Powell visited Dr Terry Ali, a member of the WICB’s medical panel yesterday at his Port of Spain offices and was declared fit to play his second regional four-day match for Trinidad and Tobago.
Mohammed, who has been suffering with a torn groin and hamstring muscle injury, was also given the green light by his medical personnel, Dr Terrence Babwah in San Fernando on Monday.
Dillon is fit and in good health and is more than likely to take his place in the final 11. He trained with the national squad at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva, yesterday.
“It is a very important match for us and we need to come out with some points,” said Dudnath Ramkessoon, chairman of the national selection committee.
“The inclusion of the four Test players should help motivate the other players. An improved performance is expected as we look to qualify for the Carib Beer International Challenge semifinal.”
The Barbadians too, have been fortified with the return of fast bowlers Corey Collymore and Fidel Edwards, while Tino Best, the season’s leading bowler, who missed the previous match through injury, has also travelled to the twin-island republic and is available if a medical exam there gives him the all-clear.
In 19 matches between the two teams in the twin-island state, Barbados have won six, T&T eight and the other five have been drawn. The two teams have met three times at Guaracara Park with T&T winning twice.
Squads:
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Daren Ganga (captain), Shazam Babwah, Marlon Black, Dwayne Bravo, Mervyn Dillon, Reyad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga, Amit Jaggernauth, Imran Jan, Aneil Kanhai, Brian Lara, Theodore Modeste, Dave Mohammed, Gibran Mohammed, Ricardo Powell, Rodney Sooklal.
BARBADOS: Courtney Browne (captain), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Ian Bradshaw, Sherwin Campbell, Corey Collymore, Pedro Collins, Fidel
Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Antonio Mayers, Martin Nurse, Floyd Reifer, Dwayne Smith, Kurt Wilkinson.