Trinidad and Tobago: Injured Williams in squad (13 Jan 1998)

Tuesday, January 13, 1998

Injured Williams in TT squad: Selectors keeping faith

BY GARTH WATTLEY

TRINIDAD and Tobago President's Cricket Cup puzzle is taking shape. But the national selectors still have to worry about one crucial piece.

West Indies wicketkeeper David Williams is the only gloveman named in the 13-man squad announced yesterday for Thursday's opening President's Cup match against the Windward Islands at Guaracara Park.

However, it is not yet a certainty that Williams will take his customary place behind the stumps.

The 34-year-old who kept successfully in all three Tests, has been inactive since injuring the little finger on his right hand during the Champions Trophy final against England in Sharjah.

And while the doctor's prognosis was that the finger should take three weeks to heal, clearing him for this week's match, no one is quite sure whether he will be match-ready by Thursday.

Williams batted in the nets yesterday but is still feeling pain in the "pinky." And the uncertainty over his fitness has forced the selectors to line up reinforcements.

"He (Williams) has asked for more time. He has not done any glovework. But we've asked (Amarnath) Basdeo and (Keno) Mason to be part of the training," chairman of selectors Rangy Nanan told the Express yesterday.

Basdeo, a former national Under-19 keeper, made his debut for the national team last year as a replacement for Williams.

But such is the concern over the strength of the wicketkeeping reserves, that Mason, a part-time keeper and middle order batsman who was not called to trials, has been invited to train with the team.

The Mason option is one T&T skipper Brian Lara hopes he's not forced to utilise.

"I don't know what David is going to do," Lara said before fielding practice on Sunday.

"He's got a pretty long season (ahead)," he continued.

"We've got five (President's Cup) matches. He's got five Test matches (ahead) so we've got to look at that. It's going to be difficult to play someone who is going to keep and bat if he's not fully fit."

And in thinking about alternatives, Lara's mind strayed to South Africa.

"(Navin) Chan who went to South Africa, that was one of the options we had and Keno, making himself available, is going to give us more to look at."

But Lara was hopeful that he will not be forced to look beyond one man.

"I'm hoping for the best. If he's available to play 100 per cent, of course he's going to be out there with us."

Apart from Williams and Daren Ganga currently on West Indies U-19 duty in South Africa, Lara will lead a settled team.

All eight players who represented the West Indies "A" and senior teams recently have been included in the squad to face the Windwards.

And while aware that the national team have not won the regional first-class crown for 12 years, the local captain feels he has the perfect mix right from the start, to turn things around.

"In 1994, I had a full season with the guys and we came second behind the Leeward Islands," Lara began.

"This year again I'm expecting to play all of the matches and expecting all of the senior guys to be around. I think again we can do well."

But the captain also acknowledges there is one other piece in the puzzle that his team must put in place if they are to end their Cup drought.

"I think it is the desire of the guys. If they think they can do well individually and as a team, I think we are going to do well overall. I know we did not do too well last year. But this year we will be trying to sustain (the pressure) for the entire season"-David Williams or not.

T&T squad:

Brian Lara (captain), Suruj Ragoonath, Anil Balliram, Philip Simmons, Denis Rampersad, Lincoln Roberts, Richard Smith, David Williams, Nigel Francis, Mervyn Dillon, Ian Bishop, Rajindra Dhanraj, Dinanath Ramnarine. (Reserves) Marlon Black, Mukesh Persad, Kenneth Hazel.

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