G Wattley: Lara wants first 'Bowl' (27 Sep 1997)

Saturday, September 27, 1997

Lara wants first 'Bowl'

T&T's captain determined to lift cricket's newest trophy

By GARTH WATTLEY

HE HAS never won the cup. But he has captured the old Shell/Sandals trophy twice. And now, Trinidad and Tobago's cricket captain Brian Lara is intent on having a ball with the bowl-the Red Stripe Bowl. "It will be nice to complete the hattrick and it will be nice to be the first holders of the Red Stripe Bowl," the T&T skipper told the Express during his team's final training session before they went into camp yesterday.

T&T, back-to-back winners of the old Shell/Sandals tournament in 1995 (when they shared with Guyana) and 1996 when they won a dramatic final against the Guyanese, will once more be based in Jamaica for the group phase, along with the hosts, Bermuda and the Windward Islands. But as they approach this tournament seeking to "bowl" over the opposition, there is probably more optimism and greater expectation about the team's chances of victory in 1997, than in the previous years. For one thing the current squad shows only two changes to the unit which played last year-Renwick Bishop and Daryl Brown being the odd men out. And in addition to retaining the nucleus, there is also the advantage of being able to include fast bowler Ian Bishop who missed last year's competition because of injury.

"He naturally will add some experience to the squad," manager/coach Rangy Nanan noted.

The skipper for his part was certain his side had the expertise to deal with any situation.

"We've got a very good mix," Lara said.

What in fact Lara has, is a team of eight players who will soon be representing the West Indies first team (Bishop, Mervyn Dillon, Phil Simmons, David Williams and Lara himself) and the "A" team (Dinanath Ramnarine, Suruj Ragoonath and Nigel Francis).

And Nanan was in no doubt about the advantage this pool of available talent could be to the national side.

"Having eight players selected on West Indies teams, it adds confidence to the team. And we being champions, we are going to perform as champions when we go to Jamaica," he said.

The presence of the WI picks was no lost on Lara either. "Over the last couple years, a lot of responsibility has been placed on myself, and if Phil was at home, on Phil and Ian Bishop," he began. "But now that we've got guys representing the West Indies team, if it's not at the international level, at the "A" team level, it's good and that will build their confidence. And I think they are now going to accept the responsibility that maybe they did not accept in the past." The acceptance of responsibility by everyone is also a point that Nanan stressed.

And certainly the captain would appreciate greater help from his batsmen. But even more important to him at this stage is team chemistry. Playing-wise, most of the squad have been active. Simmons (now with the WI Hong Kong sixes team), Dillon, Ramnarine and Richard Smith all played in the recent Jamaica county championships, while David Williams is still abroad playing cricket in the United States.

But Lara said the key to success would be how his team gelled together. "What is most important now is team spirit, getting the guys together. The actual cricket part of it, I think everybody is at the right fitness level."

The captain himself is short of match fitness, having not had a knock in the middle since the St Vincent Test match against Sri Lanka in June. And coach Nanan is hoping that his captain will be able to find his rhythm during the practice matches the T&T side will play against a Rest team at Gilbert Park this weekend.

"We would like to see Brian get some hits before he goes off (to Jamaica)," Nanan said.

"But," he added significantly, "Brian, he's natural and with a couple knocks, he'll come good."

Both coach and captain, however, will be hoping that the rank and file will rise to the occasion and do the "trick".

T&T leave for Jamaica on Wednesday and begin their campaign on Saturday against Bermuda.

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