Bishop recalled to lead Trinidad and Tobago (31 December 1998)

31 December 1998

Bishop recalled to lead Trinidad and Tobago

By Garth Wattley

Success is once again breeding success for Ian Bishop.

Having recently guided the West Indies "A" team to a 2-0 "Test" series win and a 2-1 one-day tournament victory, Bishop, 31, has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural Busta Cup regional cricket season.

The fast bowler, whose appointment was approved by the Executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board on Tuesday, got the nod from the national selectors ahead of the other serious contender, former skipper and 1997 vice-captain Phil Simmons.

The 1998 captain, West Indies boss Brian Lara, will be unavailable for the first four rounds of the five-match round-robin stage of the competition.

Bishop was captain in 1995, his comeback season after a second layoff because of a stress fracture in his back.

In that season he contributed a creditable 16 wickets while leading unbeaten T&T to third spot. Bishop also had the distinction of being the first local skipper to record an outright victory in the Shell Shield/Red Stripe Cup against Barbados at Kensington Oval.

The task this year will again be challenging, especially since Bishop will go into Busta Cup battle with a side woefully short of match practice.

This weekend, he and "A" team colleague Richard Smith will lead two teams in a match at the Queen's Park Oval in what will be the first and only official trial before the opening match against Guyana at Guaracara Park on January 14.

According to the chairman of the local selectors, Rangy Nanan, three trial games have had to be cancelled because of the unavailability of grounds, the wet weather having hampered pitch preparations.

The only other match in which the local players will get a chance to stake their case will be next weekend's Gerry Gomez North/South Classic also at the Oval. The Classic is scheduled to run from January 7-10.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)