Barath bats for change in TT

Trinidad and Tobago batsman Adrian Barath celebrates his half-century against Leicestershire  Foxes in the Nokia Champions League T20 at the Rajiv Ghandi International  Stadium in Hyderabad, India.

By Kern Ramlochan

Sports Editor

Opening batsman Adrian Barath is hoping that the performance of the national cricket team at the Nokia Champions League T20 in India will be a catalyst for positive change in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Trinidad and Tobago player said the State of Emergency which was implemented last month by the government reflected the deterioration in society. Government explained that the State of Emergency which has been extended until November was implemented to halt a surge in crime linked to the drug trade.

He said that the players wanted to play a part in helping to rehabilitate Trinidad and Tobago and inspired his unique celebration after scoring his half-century against Leicestershire Foxes on Tuesday. On reaching his half-century Barath pulled out a Trinidad and Tobago flag from his pocket to acknowledge the crowd.

“I showed the national flag because I feel proud to represent my country and show my patriotism towards Trinidad and Tobago because at the moment there is not really much positives coming out of the country,” said Barath yesterday.

He continued, “Sport really brings a country together and that is really the main reason because of the current situation as well as the pride I feel to represent Trinidad and Tobago. I want to extend my feelings towards people in Trinidad and Tobago. I try to make Trinidad and Tobagonians proud as much as possible and the team on a whole we feel the same way about it but that was just my personal touch on it.”

The stylish right handed batsman felt that sacrifices had to be made to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago is a better place for all citizens.

“It was a bit disheartening to see what was happening and the state the country was in. Every morning when you wake up and see the families mourning the loss of a loved one it is always disheartening to see,” Barath said.

He added, “Just like in sport where we have to make sacrifices, spending three months to six months out of the country at a time. The people of Trinidad and Tobago must know that if we all stick together and do things to the best of our ability we can make a positive change.”

The West Indies player revealed that the celebration was also a tribute to the fans that have been supporting the team and inspiring them through various regional and international tournaments.

“I paid tribute to the fans here, because these people flew from Trinidad all the way to India to see us play and that also our fans back home. Hopefully more people can come now that we have qualified (for the main draw) because we are going to come up against the bigger teams like Mumbai Indians who will have home support. So any support we can get from home and any physical support in India will be great for us. At the end of the day it is all for the fans, without our fans nothing is really possible,” Barath noted.

The former Kings XI Punjab player added, “I showed how patriotic I am towards Trinidad and Tobago and hopefully it will bring some positives. When we do well, a lot of people really thrive on it. My love for Trinidad and Tobago motivates me and we (the team) as Trinidadians feel very good when we have support.”

(Story courtesy Trinidad Newsday)

Gayle’s return hinges on WICB

By KERN RAMLOCHAN
Sports Editor

OPENING batsman Chris Gayle says that the ball is in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) court to decide when he returns to international cricket  with the West Indies team.
Gayle met with WICB, Chief  Executive Officer Dr Ernest  Hilaire last month for a one-on-one meeting in an attempt to resolve issues that are keeping him out of international cricket.
“Whenever they (WICB) are ready I am ready,” said Gayle,  when asked about his return to the West Indies team.
The Jamaican said he had an hour-long discussion with Hilaire at the WICB head office in Antigua, but more talks are expected to follow before he can be reinstated to the West Indies team.
“We had a discussion but things are still in the open at this point in time,” Gayle said.
He revealed, however, that talks were productive and is optimistic about his chances of returning to the regional team.
“It was a good productive talk. I met with the CEO and basically things went well from there. It is up to them to make a decision now and let me know what is happening at this point in time,” Gayle added.
The left-handed batsman  recently returned from India to take part in the Ball of Fire II charity put on by the West Indies Players Association at the Queen’s Park Oval here.
He will be heading back to continue his preparation with Royal Challengers Bangalore for the forthcoming Nokia Champions League T20 tournament later this month.
Royal Challengers Bangalore are in Group ‘B’ with South Australian Redbacks, Chevrolet Warriors with two teams from the qualifiers to fill the remaining spots.
The former Kolkata Knight Riders batsman revealed that his focus is on the Champions League and the match against Trinidad and Tobago played an important part in getting into peak form.
“The Champions League is starting in a couple weeks time it is another version of the game and I will have to head back to India.
“This match I used as preparation playing against Trinidad and overall I am looking forward to my first Champions League game. I am looking forward to it actually and I hope I can play a good part in Champions League,” Gayle stated. 
The WIPA “Cricketer-of-the-Year” finished as the top batsman at IPL 4, scoring 608 runs from 12 matches at a healthy average of 67.55 with a top score of  107.
Gayle is confident that he can continue his good form at the Champions League and guide Bangalore Royal Challengers to victory.
“Like I said it was a massive IPL, I took a lot of positives, but the Champions League is a different scenario. There will be different teams we will be playing against and different situations,” said Gayle.
He added: “ It is going to be a good contest amongst the bowlers from the different teams. So the build up like I said I am excited to be a part of it. I want to do well there just like any other player and I am looking forward to it, fingers crossed hopefully.”

Blessing in disguise

Trinidad and Tobago's cricketers will head to the Nokia Champions League T20 in India later this month full of optimism. The "Red Force" finished as runners-up at the inaugural tournament and the team believe that can go one better this year. However, they will have to achieve that goal without all-rounder Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo. Both players have opted to play for their Indian Premier League (IPL) teams. Pollard will take to the field with the glitzy Mumbai Indians while Bravo will provide further fire power to defending champions Chennai Super Kings. Much was made about Pollard and Bravo not playing for Trinidad and Tobago at the lucrative T20 tournament. Their decision added to the club versus country debate which has taken the cricket world by storm since the formation of the IPL, Sports Minister Anil Roberts suggested that it was the fault of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and even asked for their president, Azim Bassarath to step down down while the public seems confused but not really concerned anymore since the State of Emergency holds much greater importance. 

While there is a general belief by certain quarters that Trinidad and Tobago cannot win the Champions League without Pollard and Bravo it seems unfair and uneducated. Yes, Pollard and Bravo are world class Twenty20 players and they would have been the icing on the cake on an impressive team assembled for another assault on the Champions League. When Trinidad and Tobago went to the Champions League two years ago their star player was Dwayne Bravo and the truth is, he is not the best player on the team. At that time he may have been the most experienced player and the only household international name. Pollard revived his career with the national team at the inaugural tournament and has managed to have a few explosive blasts which ensures that his Twenty20 stock remains high.

If Pollard and Bravo were in the current squad for this month's tournament they would hold the same value at they did two years ago. Batsman Adrian Barath and Darren Bravo came to the Champions League as relatively unknown players. They now return as established international cricketers in all formats of the game. Barath already has a Test and One-Day International century to his name while Bravo holds a Twenty20 average of 27.66 and a strike rate of 110.66 which is remarkable. Opening batsman Lendl Simmons has revived his international career after it was stymied due reasons the West Indies Cricket Board are yet to properly address. However, he has reclaimed his place in the West Indies team in all formats and was the Player of the Tournament at the Caribbean Cup T20, scoring 249 runs. The trio along with William Perkins form a formidable experienced batting lineup that will not be easily outfoxed. If Barath can bat to the 12 over in most matches, "Red Force" will post totals over 180 runs.

The explosive top order will be complemented by vice-captain Denesh Ramdin. He is one of the best batters of spin bowling in the West Indies and will be critical in providing a stable middle order. The wicketkeeper/batsman has been criticised for his inconsistency with the bat and will need to show that he has rectified his technical flaws to continue providing that stability. Ramdin is a great thinker of the game and is a much more valuable asset than Pollard or Bravo. He commands a great deal of respect and will be an asset when the team are in a tight spot. There is no doubt that he is the best wicketkeeper in the Caribbean and the confidence he brings behind the stumps will rub off on his teammates. He may not have a WICB retainer contract or a lucrative IPL contract but no price can be put on his worth to the national team.

Captain Ganga and vice-captain Ramdin will provide steady leadership and guidance. Both players are master tacticians and with coach Kelvin Williams for a wily team. They are always three or four steps ahead of the opposition. Sources in the cricket fraternity revealed that Pollard and Bravo made the decision since February to play for their IPL teams. Therefore, would have been well aware of this and had plans and strategies in place. Trinidad and Tobago could not win with Bravo and Pollard at the inaugural tournament and their absence plays to the advantage of the team. "Red Force" have retained a level of unpredictability once more and they will be able to experiment and work different strategies for new players. We may see plans build around Darren Bravo or off-spinner Sunil Narine. But Trinidad and Tobago will not be predictable and they will be hard to decipher. 

Bowling wins Twenty20 matches coupled with good fielding. Ravi Rampaul showed with the West Indies team that he can lead a bowling attack without much support. He will have lots of support with the national team in India. Rayad Emrit has once again found that drive and new dimension that can allow his to share the new ball with Rampaul. Both pacers have been very accurate and have the ability to seam the ball. Emrit is quite a handy batsman and is a better player of spin than Pollard. Off-spinner Narine must be closely watched. He will be dangerous on the sub-continent. His action may be suspect but allowed to bowl he will be a handful. Trinidad and Tobago will be re-branded at this year's Champions League. The desire to prove they are the best and the drive to put one over their former teammates will be a catalyst for a successful tournament. All the tools are in place for run at the title. There is talent, experience, courage, leadership and revenge. When mixed together it is a good recipe for a title run. The Indian public may be stunned that we don't have our "stars" in the squad, but really what do they know? They were were whitewashed by England.

My sympathy to the TTFF

I feel sorry for the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. They have to punch above their weight in the most competitive sport in the world with limited financial and human resources. It has to depressing know that the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica are always going to dominate and a scrap with Jamaica is going to be the highlight of any World Cup qualifying or Gold Cup campaign. Imagine if Canada get their act together! Trinidad and Tobago's chances will diminish even further.

'Soca Warriors' coach Otto Pfister has a huge task ahead of him. With the government providing funding, all seems well for football in Trinidad. I give it until the end of the year for this relationship to break down. An Authorisation Committee was formed to account for the TTFF's finances. But who likes to be treated like a child?  nobody wants their parents to tell them how to spend their money and on what. There will be a conflict of interest. All Sports Promotions who will chair this committee, also have been entrusted with the TTFF's marketing and securing matches. However, I predict they will take a large chunk of the change and look after their best commercial interest instead of our footballers.

Pfister may have been in tougher situations while coaching Ghana and Nigeria. But Trinidadians are obsessed with mediocrity and we work extremely hard to achieve this. He may not have as much talented players Leo Beenhakker had to work with but I do like the guy. The German speaks of hard work, hard work and hard work. He seems to acknowledge that there is not much to choose from but he will mould a unit from the local league.

There fact that he wants to lengthen the Pro League season is a move that should have  been done a long time ago. Trinidad and Tobago's professional league is the only one of its kind that operates like an amateur league. Honestly, I do not think we will qualify for the World Cup under his guidance and he will vacate the position misunderstood and under appreciated. His work will only be recognised in the long term for future generations and somebody in authority will try to take the credit as usual.

Sports Minister, Anil Roberts seems bi-polar. He loves Pfister and the TTFF today and I am sure he will hate them tomorrow. I predict it will only be a matter of time before the Ministry of Sport begins to interfere along with the new committees and companies hired to make Trinidad and Tobago's football "better". For now we should be glad there is money to pay the staff and the players and we should enjoy this while it lasts. Hopefully Pfister has a good run with the team and we actually get to see the team play decent football.

Hunte, Hilaire must quit says Roberts

By KERN RAMLOCHAN

Sports Editor 

Trinidad Newsday

WEST INDIES legend, Andy Roberts has called on president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Julian Hunte and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ernest Hilaire to resign if cricket in the Caribbean is to move forward.

Roberts' plea came after the West Indies surrendered the One-Day International series to Pakistan on Thursday at Kensington Oval, Barbados coupled with the introduction of a questionable selection policy, the treatment of former captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul and other experienced players and the spiralling performance of the regional team.

"The West Indies Cricket Board right now is taking our cricket backwards. We need people at the board who have the interest of cricket at heart and who can plan for cricket development. I think the president and the CEO are in the wrong place. They are in the wrong place at the wrong time....that is my personal feeling," said an irritated Roberts in a telephone interview.

He felt that several WICB directors must also accept blame with the president and CEO for the poor state of West Indies cricket and must step down to allow the revival of West Indies cricket.

"The directors are not different, the directors are just following. Some of these directors are just happy to go along with whatever is happening. They need to go, some of the directors need to go because some of them are useless," Roberts said.

He added, "The president is just keeping the board members happy, so the board members keep them there. The board members are also kept happy, so they see no reason why (to change anything). They are satisfied with what is going on. I don't think it matters to them."

The former West Indies Chairman of Selectors disagreed when asked if president Hunte who has over a quarter century of cricket administration experience and CEO Hilaire have taken an unconventional approach to changing West Indies cricket for the better.

"To change what way? To change for the worse? because that is all they are going to do. Any change they make is not for the better, it is for the worse. They have made a number of changes so far and none of these changes have improved the cricket at all," roared Roberts.

The former West Indies pacer cited the decision and manner to axe the experienced players after the ICC Cricket World Cup as a classic example that Hunte and Hilaire were clueless about what they were doing.

"I think this is a poor decision and the way they go about doing it. Personally I don't have a problem if you tell Chanderpaul that he can't fit into the one-day plan because that is my personal thing. They should have said you are not going to fit into our one-day plan and this is just one-day" Roberts said.

He continued, "But with Chris (Gayle) and (Ramnaresh) Sarwan I think they went about it the wrong way too. You just can't pick a bunch of new players. What we need in order to win is confidence and nothing dents confidence more than losing, losing, losing. That is what is happening at present, we are just losing and we see no way out of this."

Roberts felt that Hilaire getting involved in cricketing decision such as the matters with Chanderpaul and Gayle is the clearest example of what is plaguing the progress of West Indies cricket.

"That is exactly where we are going in the wrong direction. Has that go anything to do with the CEO? Isn't that a playing matter? Isn't that a function for the coach? or the captain? How did the CEO get involved in that? so probable the CEO is picking teams too."

He continued “Of course this is out of place. Whether he is the Chief Executive Officer, yes or no, if he feels that way, if he sees something call in the coach and let the coach make that release. That shouldn’t be released from the CEO. I’ve never heard any CEO from around the world get involved in cricket like the way the West Indies CEO has. So it wouldn’t surprise me a lot if the CEO has a lot with Darren Sammy being captain and not the selectors.”

What TT cricketers must do to beat Jamaica

Rayad Emrit will be a key player if Trinidad and Tobago are to beat Jamaica.

                                                  
The Trinidad and Tobago cricket team in recent time has not been able to find the winning formula to topple Jamaica in the regional Four-Day tournament. Both teams will meet in the WICB Four-Day tournament semi-finals with the 'Red Force' given a massive boost by securing home advantage. National coach Kelvin Williams will be aware of the shortcomings against Jamaica and will be keen to snap their losing streak against a formidable opponent. To win the the Trinidad and Tobago must execute four critical areas to advance to the final and break the Jamaica jinx.

The batsmen must click. Most likely the match will be decided on first innings and a strong first innings batting display is critical. The timely return to form of opening batsman Lendl Simmons must bring a sense of relief to captain Daren Ganga. Simmons has been guilty of not being more consistent throughout his career and needs to continue scoring on a consistent basis. The return of Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard will strengthen the batting lineup and release the pressure on skipper Ganga who has been in tremendous form this season. 

Trinidad and Tobago's bowlers must be able to finish off the Jamaican batting lineup. During the group stages Jamaica were let off the hook after they were reeling at 60 for four. Veteran Wavell Hinds slammed 162 and David Bernard scored 70 which eventually proved to be the turning point in the match. Pacer Rayad Emrit should lead the pace attack with Ravi Rampaul. They will provide a difficult proposition for the attacking Jamaican batsmen. Leg-spinner Yannic Cariah should prove a different proposition on home soil along with lef-spinner Imran Khan. If off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth can prove penetrative that national team will have a good chance of winning.

Jamaican batsman Marlon Samuel must be negated at all costs. He is the leading batsman in the regional tournament, scoring 750 runs and can pose a serious threat when he gets going. In the past Emrit has proven to be effective against Samuels. The Trinidad and Tobago bowlers must attack Samuels and ensure he does not settle at the crease. The Jamaican will be devastating if he is able to assert his influence on the match.

Home advantage must count for the national team. If they can get through this match the national team should be in a good position to reclaim the regional title. The semi-final match will be played either at the Queen's Park Oval or the Sir Frank Worrell Ground and the knowledge of these pitches will be a benefit for the 'Red Force'. The Sir Frank Worrell Ground offers a greater balance for the pacers and spinners. However, the wicket deteriorates faster and the spinners come into play. Spinners will be used much more at the Queen's Park Oval and the national team should be favouring this venue.

Where do the Windies go from here?

After the atrocious ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, the West Indies who crashed out in the quarter-finals to Pakistan are yet again at another cross road. Another opportunity for the administrators to confront the issues plaguing West Indies cricket is upon them. Brave and hard decisions can be made to start the rebuilding of cricket in the Caribbean or the dark ages of West Indies cricket can continue. I do not think there are much administrators brave and smart enough to turn around West Indies at this point in time and we will continue to see the terrible standard of cricket which is reflected in our world ranking.

For the sake of being optimistic there are a few changes which can be made which will bring some short term relief to the team. The captaincy of the West Indies team is the first issue that must be addressed. Darren Sammy is not good enough to be on the West Indies team. If he cannot command his place he should not be on the team. The West Indies is not strong enough to get away with his weaknesses and win matches. There is no balance to the team and his selections hinders from incorporating an additional batsman and bowler. Sammy's weakness as a tactician was shown at the World Cup and he needs to work on his game if he wants to help West Indies cricket.

The Selection Panel must resign immediately. Clyde Butts, Courtney Browne and Robert Haynes have proven to be clueless and out of their depth. If you look at football teams that go to a World Cup, they take an experienced group of players with one or two inexperienced players who are considered prodigies. The West Indies had one of the most inexperienced teams with Andre Russell, Devendra Bishoo, Kirk Edwards and Devon Thomas playing less than 10 One-Day Internationals amongst them. Adrian Barath and Darren Bravo are also inexperienced but they are legitimate prodigies which will manifest in the future. Therefore, the inability of the selectors to formulate a plan which would have given the less experienced players in the team greater exposure before the World Cup, shows the lack of foresight of the Windies selectors.

Otis Gibson must be sacked. He has brought nothing to West Indies cricket and will continue to hide behind excuses. While the experienced players in the West Indies team did not perform at the World Cup, there was no acceptance of blame by the coach. He has done nothing of worth during his tenure and hopefully he does the Caribbean a favour by ending his term of service.