Emrit is back
March 26th 2009

T&T allrounder Rayad Emrit will make a return to the national team for today’s 12th round of West Indies Cricket Board - four day championship, against Guyana at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

Emrit has replaced fast bowler Ravi Rampaul from the T&T team who defeated the Windward Islands on first innings in a drawn encounter at the Arnos Vale Recreation Ground in St Vincent.

Rampaul has been called up for duty with the West Indies team for the third and fourth Digicel Cup Limited Overs Series against England this week-end at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Emrit played in the two opening matches of the series against Barbados and Jamaica, but broke his left-hand at the Queen’s Park Indoor Facilities during the Jamaica game.

Although the match is of academic interest to the teams, they will want to end the lengthy tournament on a winning note and also to give the youngsters more opportunities to show their worth.

T&T are in fifth place in the seven-team-standings on 51 points, while Guyana are on the bottom of the ladder with 24.

Manager of the T&T team, Colin Borde said that with three matches still remaining, there are still opportunities for each player.

“ We still have three matches to go, and off course that still bring opportunities for each and every player to grow as cricketers. As a team, we still haven’t thus far achieve our objective that is primarily to win the title,” Borde said.

He added that in 2009 there were a lot of opportunities for new players to emerge.

“ The 2009 season has given a lot of opportunities to a lot of new players to the national team. These players are now understanding what is required to succeed at regional level. It is a new experience for many of them. And as team we have grown tremendously and for the last three games we are going to play tough cricket.

T&T trained at the Queen’s Park Oval, under the watchful eyes of captain Daren Ganga and coach Kelvin Williams.

Before the practice session, President of the T&T Cricket Board, Deryck Murray, addressed the players and officials of the T&T team.

Coach of the Guyana team, Rabindranath Seeram said that although the team is not doing well in the present competition, there are some pluses in the side.

“ Although we are not in contention for championship honours, there are some outstanding performances from individuals, including Narsingh Deonarine who have scored over 800 runs in the tournament and spinners Devindra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul both of whom have taken over 20 wickets in the series.

We also have Leon Johnson and Siewnarine Chattergoon with international experience, and hopefully both will score big in the remaining matches, to keep their names on the regional selectors lips.

We are also giving the younger players a chance to gain the experience and exposure at this level,” Seeram said.

Guyana have brought in allrounder Esaun Crandon in place of former West Indies youth batsman Gajanand Singh.

The Guyanese rounded off their preparation with a net and physical session yesterday at the Queen’s Park Oval.

TEAMS:

T&T - Daren Ganga (captain), Adrian Barath, Sherwin Ganga, Imran Khan, Darren Bravo, Gibran Mohammed, Atiba Alert, Amit Jaggernauth, Magnum Nanan, Rayad Emrit, Navin Stewart, Jason Mohammed, Daron Cruikshank. Manager - Colin Borde. Coach - Kelvin Williams.

Guyana - Siewnarine Chattergoon, Christopher Barnwell, Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin (captain), Assad Fudadin, Derwin Christian, Royston Crandon, Devindra Bishoo, Veerasammy Permaul, Brendon Bess, Steve Jacobs, Esaun Crandon. Manager - Carl Moore. Coach - Rabindranath Seeram.

Umpires: Lennox Abraham (Dominica) & Terrence Birbal (T&T).
Stand-by - Peter Nero.
Match Referee - Clyde Cumberbatch.
Match Adjudicator - Michael Carew.
Statistician - Rohit Balkissoon.

Standings: Jamaica 90 points, Windwards 63, Leewards 59, Barbados 54, T&T 51, CCC 33, Guyana 24.