Today, the T&T Red Force bowls off in their quest to win the 2022-23 West Indies Championship.
If they are successful, it will be the first time the Red Force wins the coveted title since 2006, a span of some 17 years which one has to admit, with the cricketing talent T&T possesses is rather bewildering.
They play against a skilful but somewhat underperforming Windward Islands Volcanoes. The Red Force will be missing a couple of their stalwarts but still have named a relatively experienced squad.
Darren Bravo is at the helm - a player who is soon coming to the end of a career that promised so much but did not deliver as much as his ability suggested should have been delivered. I would expect him to have a successful championship as he has to lead by example and if he has put in the hours and hard work in the nets, his natural class with the bat should see him through.
Jeremy Solozano and Tion Webster are at the top of the order and this is another pair that simply must show their undoubted talent in this Championship. For far too long, we have been referring to the promise of Solozano and Webster. Solozano got the opportunity at the Test level but has not kicked on and he has now fallen down the pecking order with the emergence of 26-year-old Tagenarine Chanderpaul. This could very well be his final opportunity to remind the selectors that he is still around.
On the other hand, Webster has shown so much skill but seems content with playing a few good shots and then giving his wicket away. I am wondering if the coach should contemplate using him lower down the order when the ball gets slightly older. However, he seems to enjoy opening but he must, like Solozano, come good.
An interesting selection is Vikash Mohan who has forced his way into the squad with some good batting performances. He has represented T&T at the youth level and if he gets the opportunity, he has proven that he has the temperament to bat for long and could force his way into the team and make an opening spot his very own.
I like Jyd Goolie. He needs to convert half-centuries into centuries and if he starts the tournament well, he could be one of the batting successes for the Red Force.
Yannic Cariah is a fighter who works hard at his game and is another one who, if he starts the tournament well, can figure prominently with the bat for the Red Force. His leg spin bowling is an asset as this aspect of his game has improved and he can turn out to be a useful weapon for his captain if and when he gets the ball.
Veteran Jason Mohammed will add experience to the lineup and is yet another one that needs to do well in this tournament. He is getting on in age and with many young batsmen breathing down his neck, if he does not score runs early, the selectors could quickly look elsewhere.
Amir Jangoo will do wicketkeeping duties in the absence of Joshua Da Silva. He is competent behind the stumps and his batting is good. If his concentration levels remain high, he should be an asset in front and behind the stumps.
Imran Khan and Terrance Hinds are considered the all-rounders in the squad. Hinds should share the new ball with Uthman Muhammad and Webster should also bowl his medium pacers to back up Hinds and Muhammad. To be frank, this is probably the weak part of the Red Force team. To be missing Shannon Gabriel, Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip could prove costly as those are very difficult players to replace. All three have represented the West Indies but it gives Hinds and Muhammad the opportunity to showcase their fast bowling ability and to see just how good they are.
The spin bowling is well taken care of with legspinners Khan and Cariah. The offspin of Bryan Charles and the left arm spin of Khary Pierre offer a good variety for the team and if the pitches start to wear by the last day, they could be a handful.
In retrospect, the selects have done a good job. Of course, there will always be arguments for other players to be selected but if those who are selected don’t do the job, others will get their chance. Will they win the tournament? They stand as good a chance as any other team. My problem with T&T’s cricket is that not enough 3-day cricket is played locally and until the powers that be get the local cricketers playing three-day cricket more regularly instead of all this T10 etc. cricket, batsmen locally will struggle to build innings and make centuries. Nevertheless, the talent is there so let us wait and see.
Of the other teams, Barbados Pride should be near the top. Shane Dowrich is at the helm and he would be looking for a good series to put some pressure on Da Silva. Sharmarh Brooks should lead their batting but their fast bowling may very well be their trump card. They will hope some of their young players can stand up and be counted.
Guyana Harpy Eagles have a very experienced squad led by veteran Leon Johnson. Going through the names, most of them are tried and tested and they should give a good account of themselves and, like Barbados, will be right there at the top.
The Jamaica Scorpions look a little thin on experience. They are led by Paul Palmer Jr and he would want to lead his team with confidence and he would want to score runs. However, they may very well have some new names coming through and create problems for the other teams, especially with some relatively unknown players trying to make a name for themselves.
The Volcanoes also have a new skipper in Alick Athanaze. This is a player I have a lot of time for. He is very gifted with the bat and while he gets to 60-70 runs often, he gives his wicket away easily. He did get a hundred against Guyana last year, but he still needs to be more consistent. Some of the other batsmen have to give him support and come good as their bowling is very useful; both from their pace and spin but time and time again, their batting lets them down.
The Leewards Islands Hurricanes is another experienced squad and should do well. They will miss the batting of Devon Thomas but the other batsmen are capable of good scores and the bowling is good. They can certainly cause an upset or two in the tournament.
Who will come out as champions? Your guess is as good as mine but I remain hopeful for some good performances and that a couple of players emerge from the shadows and put their hands up for West Indies selection.
Editor’s note - The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of any organisation of which he is a stakeholder.