By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Omar Khan, (left) manager of Trinidad & Tobago's Red Stripe Bowl squad along with Dinanath Ramnarine, (right) and other squad members head through the Customs hall at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
TRINIDAD AND Tobago's Red Stripe Bowl team arrived here yesterday focused on upstaging Jamaica.
The Trinidadians have a poor record against Jamaica over the last few years and Gray, speaking to The Gleaner at the Norman Manley International Airport, said they will "analyse the Jamaicans" with a view to get the "upper hand" this time.
"The Jamaicans are a very formidable side, very strong opposition, so once we sit and analyse the Jamaicans, we will come out with different tactical ploys, and hopefully we could get the upper hand this time on the Jamaicans," Gray said.
Jamaica, who won the Bowl in 1999, defeated T&T by seven wickets last year in semi-final action; beat them by 93 runs in 2001; and in 2000, it was a nine-wicket win for the then Jimmy Adams-led local side.
CONFIDENT
Despite those results, Gray remained confident, saying they are strong in all departments.
"We have good batsmen, and bowlers, and we also have a good fielding side."
Gray also stated that he is "quietly confident" of T&T's chance to win the trophy.
He further said: "I think we have as good as a team as any one in this Red Stripe Bowl so I am looking forward to a good competition".
"I think we have a very good team, I think we have prepared sufficiently enough, we have experienced players and young players, so we can expect top class performances by the Trinidad & Tobago team," Gray continued.
Apart from leading West Indies players Brian Lara, Merv Dillon and captain Daren Ganga, Gray, who coached Trinidad & Tobago's Under-19 team to last year's regional title, said they have other capable players.
"Bravo is a good all round player, he has the ability to vie for West Indies status and we have a young fast bowler called Thedore Modeste who has been bowling very quickly," he said.
Aneil Kanhai, who scored a double hundred for the West Indies' B' against his native Trinidad & Tobago, is also considered by coach Gray as a good young talent.
Lara and Ganga did not arrive with the squad yesterday, this as both players were in the island from last week.
T&T squad: - Daren Ganga (captain), Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo, Andy Jackson, Imran Jan, Shazam Babwah, Aneil Kanhai, Gibran Mohammed, Dave Mohammed, Mervyn Dillon, Reyad Emrit, Theodore Modeste, Dinanath Ramnarine, Rodney Sooklal.
