CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC- Captain Darren Sammy is urging his batsmen to come to the party as Windward Islands prepare to battle front runners Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean T20 tournament today.
Windwards play T&T in the second game of a double header that signals the resumption of the round robin phase of the tournament, after matches in Port-Of Spain last week.
Windwards are the only team which defeated the defending champions last year and Sammy says big scores from his batsmen are overdue.
“We have not played out best cricket so far but I am hoping that the change of venue and playing in front our home crowd, we could improve and click at the right time,” Sammy told reporters as he arrived in his homeland St. Lucia on Sunday.
“We are going to need our A game to beat Trinidad and I know Johnson (Charles) and (Andre) Fletcher and almost all our batsmen are due some runs so hopefully we can come in and put in a good performance in front of our home crowd”.
Windwards are in a three-way tie for third place with Barbados and Guyana all on eight points.
Windwards and Guyana have both played three matches while the Bajans have played four times.
Trinidad and Tobago are leading on 13 points after three victories and an abandoned game.
“Trinidad would be the most experience team in the tournament. They have some very experienced players but last year we were the only team that defeated Trinidad” said Sammy.
“We play them on Tuesday. I am looking forward to that encounter. It should be a very exciting game”.
Meantime, the Windward’s captain says he is expecting an excellent pitch at the Beausejour Cricket Ground for the rest of the tournament. Sammy’s comment was made in light of complaints in some circles about the playing surface at the Queen’s park oval.
“I think we will definitely get a very good cricket wicket. The head grounds man over there brought good ratings for the pitch from the last series we played against Australia,”
“ and if judging from that last series …the pitch should be an excellent one where there is something in it for the bowlers and the batsmen would enjoy it cause the ball will come on to the bat”.
Guyana will play Jamaica in the first encounter at the Beausejour Cricket Ground today.
