By Tony Becca, Contributing EditorTHE BATTLE for the 2003 Red Stripe Bowl gets under way today with Jamaica hosting Zone A, Antigua Zone B, and with the local action at the University of the West Indies' Sir Frank Worrell Oval where Trinidad and Tobago are up against the Leeward Islands X1.
With the Windward Islands taking on Canada tomorrow at Jamalco, Jamaica, favourites to win the 50-over-a-side tournament and the US$12,000 first prize, bow into action on Friday against the Leeward Islands X1 at Kensington Park.
First things first, however, today it is Trinidad and Tobago versus the Leeward Islands X1, and the question is who will win the Zone A curtain-raiser, and with the top two teams from the zone moving into the semi-finals, leave themselves with a good chance of getting there.
HOT FAVOURITES
Winners of the regional tournament on six occasions but never a Red Stripe Bowl champion, Trinidad and Tobago are the hot favourites.
One reason why they are so fancied is the presence of the great Brian Lara - the dashing left-hander who has played some of the finest innings in limited-overs cricket at the highest level.
Another reason is that with batsmen like captain Daren Ganga, Dwayne Bravo, Aneil Kanhai and the aggressive, no-nonsense Andy Jackson, with bowlers like pacer Mervyn Dillon, right-arm legspinner Dinanath Ramnarine, and tricky left-arm spinner Dave Mohammed, they boast a well-balanced team.
In comparison to Trinidad and Tobago, the Leeward Islands X1, playing without Antigua and without one like Lara, do not look as imposing - neither in batting nor bowling.
Captain Stuart Williams is a wonderful, attacking batsman who enjoys parading his skill in regional competitions, Runako Morton is good, so too Tonito Willett and Alex Adams, and no can question the bowling skills of allrounder Carl Tuckett and of offspinner Omari Banks who is also a capable batsman.
SURPRISE
Unless they have a few who will surprise, however, unless newcomers like Virgil Browne, Steve Liburd and Barsram Singh rise to the occasion, the Leeward Islands X1 do not seem to have either the depth in batting or enough bowlers of quality to knock away Trinidad and Tobago.
