PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Former West Indies Test captain Denesh Ramdin believes his presence will be an asset to the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, after being recalled to the side for the next two rounds of the Regional Four-Day Championship.
The 34-year-old Ramdin, a veteran of 74 Tests, is one of two changes to the Red Force lineup, with left-arm pacer Daniel St Clair also included for the upcoming away matches against Windward Islands Volcanoes and bitter rivals Barbados Pride.
Jamaican fast bowler Odean Smith and 20-year-old opener Keagan Simmons have been dropped. Ramdin was ruled out of the season’s two opening rounds because of suspension and was overlooked for the trip to Georgetown to face champions Guyana Jaguars.
“Hopefully I will be keeping as well so I will use my experience behind the stumps to help the bowlers and the captain and share my knowledge so we can go out there and play some good cricket and try to get another win,” Ramdin told media here. Red Force have had a mixed start to their campaign, drawing at home to Jamaica Scorpions before trouncing Leeward Islands Hurricanes by an innings.
They were upended in the last round, however, crashing to a heavy 219-run defeat to Jaguars in Georgetown last week after suffering two batting meltdowns.
Ramdin said it was important Red Force bounced back strongly from the loss with a winning performance against Volcanoes at Windsor Park next week.
“It didn’t go our way but it was a strong Guyana team and they are a very tough team to beat when they are playing at home,” said Ramdin.
“We just have to pick up ourselves from that game and try to go out against the Windward Islands and put up a good fight in Dominica.
“Hopefully we can get a good wicket up there for our batsmen to score some runs and put pressure on the opposition bowlers and hopefully our bowlers can go out there and get 20 wickets in that game.”
Red Force are fourth in the six-team standings on 32.6 points with Jaguars already out front on 44.6.
SQUAD – Darren Bravo (captain), Jason Mohammed, Jeremy Solozano, Yannic Cariah, Denesh Ramdin, Joshua Da Silva, Yannick Ottley, Terrance Hinds, Bryan Charles, Kissondath Magram, Akeal Hosein, Uthman Muhammad, Daniel St. Clair.
