Fresh from their unlikely win against Jamaica on the weekend, T&T cricketers will wake up this morning in another country, with another assignment before them, needing one last big effort to be crowned Regional First Class champions.
The last time they tasted success in the 'white clothes' format was way back in 2007 when they won the International Shield. They face Barbados from tomorrow at the region's Mecca Kensington Oval , where surprisingly they have a good record.
Although they have lost to Barbados in their last three First Class meetings, two of them have been at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad. The last of which left a very bitter taste in the mouths of their fans, as the Red Force capitulated in less than two days.
However, with changes in personnel manager of the team Omar Khan thinks a fight is on the cards. "We have included some new players and they have brought tremendous energy to our team. The team is keen and focus and there is a lot of chatter around which is a good sign. The players are cognizant of the fact that they have let down their fans at an extent this season and wants to win this one for them. They have that fire in their eyes and when they are like that, it means they play their best cricket.
"We have not enjoyed the best of results against the Barbadians in the last couple First Class meetings but we have to put that behind us and go out there and get the job done. If we were thinking along the same lines against the Jamaicans, we would not have been able to beat them. They have been dominating this tournament for the past five years yet we sent them out and they have nothing to show for their season's work.
"We have won the Regional T20 and we are into the finals of the First Class and this was our target before the season started. We wanted to win the Regional Super50 but unfortunately we got knocked out at the semi-final stage.
"We know that the Barbadians will be coming hard at us with their fast bowlers but our players are ready for the battle. My information is that they are toying with the idea of going into the game with Kemar Roach, Miguel Cummins, Tino Best and Fidel Edwards. Whoever they bring we will be ready and as the players were singing in the dressing room after the Jamaica victory � "We ready for the title."
T&T squad: Denesh Ramdin (captain), Jeremy Solozano, Lendl Simmons, Adrian Barath, Steven Katwaroo, Jason Mohammed, Akeal Hosein, Imran Khan, Rayad Emrit, Amit Jaggernauth, Yannic Carriah, Shannon Gabriel, Marlon Richards. David Williams (coach), Omar Khan (manager).