Despite the challenges the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force have faced so far in the Digicel Regional Four Day tournament, Manager Roland Sampath is optimistic that his team could improve for the remainder of the season.
Roland Sampath
Red Force were off to a good start in their 2016/2017 campaign with a convincing win over Windward Islands Volcanoes in Port of Spain but ever since the lads from the twin island republic have had to endure three games without much positives with defeats to Barbados Pride and Jamaica Scorpions and a rain affected draw against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.
The team’s bowling is yet to let them down but their batting is definitely an issue, an area that the manager believes is hampering the team.
“What we are coming up short in is the batting and game after game we (the team) keep hoping that the batting will come good because we had some centurions in our trial games and some of these players have been around for a couple of seasons now so it’s time they show progress, unfortunately we have fallen short.”
Nevertheless Sampath remains strong on confidence that his team will give a good show in Guyana and although he know it will take a lot out of his unit, he said they are up for the battle.
According to the former Trinidad player, his team’s downfall with the bat is due to the lack of focus and it is in the air that Trinidad’s cricketers have a liking for the shorter version, but the idea that they have been preparing for the four day games they need to be mentally strong, go in there occupy the crease, apply themselves and be strong.
He did not restrict the lack of focus merely to his players since it is a concern among regional teams and it is yet to be figured out if it is a mindset but he urged that stronger cricket must be played to attract people for the longer version. “The longer the version of the game we must give a better account of ourselves,” 59 year old advised.
Despite their lacklustre performance to date Red Force continues to field a similar team and the fifth round will be played with almost if not the same team that lost to the Scorpions in the fourth round.
According to the manager the reasons for this is because the absence of the senior players to global franchises and the emerging players would have done well in Trinidad’s domestic league and instead of ‘chop and change’ it is best to give them the run, so they can gain experience, get exposure and hopefully it will pay dividends sooner than later.
Among those young talents in the Red Force side are Isaiah Rajah an opening batsman, Khary Pierre an exciting fast bowler, Jyd Goolie a batsman and the very impressive Roshon Primus, who has shown potential of becoming a familiar face in regional cricket since his debut against the Volcanoes this season where he scored 36 not out in the match and took seven wickets including a 6/30 in his first outing with the ball.
