Ramdin: Red Force pacers must step up

Captain of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Denesh Ramdin wants leg spin bowler Imran Khan to get more support against Windward Islands Volcanoes in round three of the Digicel Regional Four-Day Tournament, which bowls off at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair at 10 am, today.

Khan has been leading the TT bowling attack this season as he has already grabbed 11 wickets from two matches. Khan gave Red Force a chance to defeat Jamaica Scorpions on the final day in round two at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Sunday. He took six for 59 to help dismiss the Scorpions for 141 in the second innings, however, the Red Force did not have enough time to chase the 195-run victory target.

Ramdin is looking for a more all-round bowling effort against the Volcanoes. “I will like the new ball bowlers to pick up some more wickets up front so it will be less pressure on the spinners,” Ramdin said.

“Imran Khan has been fantastic so far and the other bowlers have been (bowling okay but not) picking up wickets, but hopefully in this game they can do that. Hopefully they can take up responsibility, get some wickets and not give Imran Khan so much work to do. But I think he is relishing the oppurtunity, he wants the ball and he wants to bowl long spells for the team.”

The Red Force catching has been below par this season and the TT skipper is keen to see this addressed.

“Most definitely, catches win matches. We put down some catches which could have helped us win matches. Guys went on to get big centuries and big half-centuries, so hopefully this game we can do that going forward into the tournament.”

Red Force have added some experience to the team with the addition of West Indies cricketers Jason Mohammed and Kyle Hope. Mohammed has recovered from a thigh injury, while Hope was on West Indies duty in Zimbabwe.

Missing out is right-hander Ewart Nicholson who scored back-to-back centuries in TT’s first match vs Barbados but has been forced to make way. Ramdin said it was unfortunate but believes Mohammed and Hope will improve the team.

“The experience playing at international level and coming back here, hopefully they can dominate,” Ramdin said. “That experience is second to none...having those players in the line-up is always good, it strengthens our batting department so that will give us some confidence in the middle and lower order.” Mohammed has 62 first class matches under his belt, while Hope has played 39 matches.

After two matches, the Red Force are third after back-to-back draws. Ramdin said the team is upbeat and wants a victory to stay close to leaders Guyana Jaguars.

“(The confidence) is very much high at the moment after coming out with two good results. It would have been better if we came out with outright wins but having said that, it is what it is. We need to come out from Thursday to Sunday and put up a good game and get some points on the board and get closer to Guyana who is on top of the table.”

TT SQUAD: Denesh Ramdin (captain), Amir Jangoo, Jeremy Solozano, Isaiah Rajah, Tion Webster, Roshon Primus, Imran Khan, Daniel St Clair, Bryan Charles, Khary Pierre, Kyle Hope, Jason Mohammed, Yannic Cariah

Today’s fixtures:

TT Red Force vs Windward Islands Volcanoes, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Guyana Jaguars, Warner Park, St Kitts

Jamaica Scorpions vs Barbados Pride, Sabina Park, Jamaica