T&T looking to overcome finals jinx

The much-vaunted regional first-class double is within their grasp. But Trinidad and Tobago will have to battle recent history against their opponents, Barbados, to achieve it.

When the Carib Beer Challenge final bowls off from today at Guaracara Park, Point-a-Pierre, T&T should remember that their two previous encounters against Barbados on home soil ended in defeat, including a 246-run loss in the 2003-04 season at the same venue of this match and a six-wicket loss at the Queens Park Oval in the 2004-05 season.

Added to that, the last time the two teams met in a final was in the 1999 Busta Cup competition where T&T, led by Ian Bishop, lost to Barbados at the Kensington Oval.

Back in February, though, Daren Ganga and the current T&T squad trounced the Bajans by 264 runs to lift the Carib Beer Cup, the regional tournament. And T&T's confidence ahead of this weekend's final was boosted by their emphatic 391-run victory over the Windward Islands in the semi-final earlier this week.

Ganga believed his team was in the right mood for the crucial last match of the season and was also mindful of the consequences of taking victory for granted.

"I think it is always good having a good performance in a semi-final and getting your opposition in the final to know you are a tough team, a champion team," Ganga said after the Windwards win. "We played like champions (in the semi-final). To be able to beat a team in three and a little bit days, it is very important for us to send the right message."

"We are not going to get complacent," he added. "We know this is an opportunity for us to make history and to set a path that no other Trinidad and Tobago team has achieved. It's something we are all hungry for and we are looking forward for that opportunity and ensuring we make the best use if it."

Their confidence is well-warranted given the inclusion of Brian Lara, who despite missing the recent semi-final, is in the line-up as well as the in-form Ganga himself, and their West Indies colleagues Dwayne Bravo and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin. Jason Mohammed, who scored a century against the Windwards in the semi-final and who escaped unscathed from a vehicular accident late Wednesday night, should also take his place in the side.

Individuals apart, T&T will also take confidence from the good team cricket they have played this season, which has been the main reason for their presence in the final.

Unlike T&T, Barbados' entry to the final was less emphatic. Much less. They owe their advancement to a `not-so convincing' first innings points win against Guyana in their semi-final, according to Hendy Springer, their coach.

He said, "We want to try and get our mental game right. That is the shortcoming in Barbados' cricket - the way we prepare ourselves mentally and our general attitude going into first-class games."

Besides his apprehension with his team's mental focus, Springer expressed concern about the ability of the Guaracara Park pitch to hold up over five days.

"One of the things that I hope wouldn't happen is that the pitch deteriorates," he said. "It's five days. I don't know when last a first-class pitch would have gone five days."

Barbados have welcomed back to form the experienced Floyd Reifer who hit a century against Guyana, and will be joined in the batting department by Ryan Hinds, their prolific captain, along with Dale Richards and Dwayne Smith. Excluded from the 14-man squad was fast bowler Jason Bennett.

But with an attack reinforced by the experience of Pedro Collins, the visitors will not be mere spectators in this contest.

Trinidad and Tobago - Daren Ganga (capt), Lendl Simmons, Sherwin Ganga, Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Mohammed, Denesh Ramdin, Richard Kelly, Rayad Emrit, Mervyn Dillon, Dave Mohammed, Amit Jaggernauth, Adrian Bharath, Samuel Badree

Barbados - Ryan Hinds (capt), Dale Richards, Wayne Blackman, Dwayne Smith, Floyd Reifer, Alcindo Holder, Patrick Browne, Ian Bradshaw, Tino Best, Ryan Austin, Pedro Collins