Trinidad & Tobago: Bodoe, Mason out trials (11 Nov 1997)

Tuesday, November 11, 1997

Trinidad & Tobago: Bodoe, Mason out trials

By GARTH WATTLEY SOME 28 players have been called up by the national selectors for trials in preparation for he 1998 regional first-class season. But there is no place this time for Mahadeo Bodoe or Keno Mason.

Bodoe and Mason, both former national youth team captains with a total of 44 senior matches between them, were surprise omissions from the group of trial invitees.

According to chairman of selectors, Rangy Nanan, Bodoe's ignoring of a call-up for training for the Red Stripe Bowl one-day tournament worked against him.

"He was called to trials and we never received a response. Not a word. That was taken into consideration," Nanan said.

Allrounder Bodoe, 30, who made his senior team debut in 1985 but who has been a regular member of the T&T team since 1994, was the leading batsman in the national league last season, helping Sims Central Sports to their first Division One title.

However, he played in only four of T&T's 10 Red Stripe Cup matches this year. And a groin injury hampered his efforts to regain his place. Mason, the inconsistent right-handed middle-order batsman who will be 25 on Thursday, has been in the national side since 1993, playing in 26 matches for an average of 23.60. But this year, he was often 12th man and played in five matches, mustering an average of just 15.71.

The exclusion of Bodoe and Mason from the invitees reflects an emphasis on youth. Two 1997 Red Stripe debutants, middle-order batsman Denis Rampersad and wicketkeeper Armanath Basdeo are among those called up along with Santa Cruz Sports wicketkeeper Kendall Joseph and Preysal left-arm spinner Kishore Lalchan.

The eight players on international duty will join the national team on their return from the tour of Pakistan and the "A" team tour of South Africa.

The first trial, a three-day fixture, is scheduled for November 21 at Gilbert Park.

Following is the list of invitees:

(Openers): Anil Balliram, Andre Lawrence, Leon Romero, Avelino Thomas; (Middle order) Darren Ganga, Richard Smith, Lincoln Roberts, Zaheer Ali, Denis Rampersad, Imran Jan, Andy Jackson; (Wicketkeepers) Armanath Basdeo, Kendall Joseph, Navin Chan; (Spinners) Rajindra Dhanraj, Avidesh Samaroo, Kenneth Hazel, Mukesh Persad, Vishal Persad-Maharaj, Kishore Lalchan, (Fast Bowlers) Eugene Antoine, Marlon Black, Asif Jan, Dion Pierre, Ricardo Paty, Robert Brown.

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