Rajeev Ramnath will lead a strong Trinidad and Tobago U-19 team for the West Indies U-19 Cricket Championship in St Vincent and the Grenadines, from August 7-28.
This year the regional youth cricketers will compete in the longest version of the game which many would not have played in the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Team manager Kerwin John made the revelation yesterday after announcing the 14-man squad.
John said that unlike previous U-19 regional tournaments, this year the honors will be decided with teams competing in the three-day red ball league format.
“We haven’t played three-day cricket and the boys will have an adjustment, so it will be a new experience this time,” John said of the upcoming contest.
There has been no domestic red-ball cricket this season in Trinidad following the lifting of restrictions on team sports earlier this year.
Ramnath along with Justin Jagessar and Andrew Rambaran were among the standout players for the Premier League U-19 team that competed in the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board 50-overs and T20s this season.
However, John said they will prepare for the change in format with some practice matches as part of their preparation for the tournament.
“We’ll certainly be hoping they can have some meaningful practice games leading up to the tournament,” John said.
John, the TTCB first vice-president and head of the Tobago Cricket Association, said it is essential that the youngsters get a feel for playing the longer format so that their bodies can acclimatise to the game over three consecutive days. of which they will have a short time. recovery period.
John said the importance of having a physio with the squad cannot be overstated to help young cricketers recover and overcome difficult injuries.
He said that in the past his relationship with the Barbados team allowed him the services of their physio and if one cannot be assigned to the T&T team, he may have to depend again on the goodwill of other competitors.
Squad: Rajeev Ramnath (captain), Justin Jagessar, Kyle Ramdoo, Narad Kyle Kissondath, Andrew Rambaran, Nick Ramlal, Veran Batchu, Vasant Singh, Orlando James, Zachary Siewah, Joshua Davis, Jacen Agard, Ricardo Chase, Joshua James. Kerwin John (manager), Amin Forgenie (coach)
