WICB 4 Day Championship T&T vs Leewards Islands
February 11th 2009

Rampaul Returns

Allrounder Ravi Rampaul has replaced opening batsman Lendl Simmons on a T&T -14-man squad to come up against the Leeward Islands, in an important sixth round encounter of the West Indies Cricket Board Four-day league championship, starting on Friday at the University of the West Indies grounds in St Augustine.

The right-handed Simmons has been elevated to the West Indies squad for the second Test which starts tomorrow at the Sir Vivian Richard Stadium in North Sound, St Peter, Antigua.

Rampaul is coming off an injury to his finger on his right hand which he sustained during the North/South Gerry Gomez Memorial Classic in December last year.

He has been given the medical green light by Dr Terry Ali to participate in this weekend’s match.

Still on the injured list are talented left-handed batsman Darren Bravo and allrounder Rayad Emrit.

Both are expected back on the team for the seventh round match against Guyana at the National Stadium in Providence on Carnival weekend. Also included in the squad is prolific run-getter and wickettaker in the National Cricket League, Imran Khan.

The Alescon Comets captain will replace Simmons in the final eleven, while Rampaul could take the place of allrounder Richard Kelly.

Off-spinner Sunil Narine is expected to make his regional First-Class debut at the expense of allrounder Samuel Badree.

The T&T cricketers are fourth in the seven-team standings on 27 points are must take full points from the Leewards at stay in contention for championship honours.

T&T trained on Wednesday at the National Cricket Centre in Balmain, Couva and will round off preparations at the same venue on Thursday. T&T: Daren Ganga (captain), Adrian Barath, Imran Khan, Kieron Pollard, Sherwin Ganga, Gibran Mohammed, Ravi Rampaul, Amit Jaggernauth, Richard Kelly, Samuel Badree, Navin Stewart, Justin Guillen, Atiba Alert, Sunil Narine. Manager: Colin Borde. Coach: Kelvin Williams. Trainer: Ronald Rogers.

STANDINGS

TEAMS*M*W*L*D*PTS

Jamaica*4*3*0*1*42
Barbados*5*3*1*1*39
Windwards*5*3*2*0*36
T&T*4*1*0*3*27
Leewards*4*1*3*0*16
CCC*4*1*2*1*15
Guyana*4*0*4*0*4