PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Rookie off-spinner Bryan Charles says Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will be focussed this year on bringing an end to their four-day title drought, but need to pay special attention to their preparation phase in order to make this is a reality.
Though they have dominated the shorter forms of the regional domestic championship, Red Force are without a first class title in 11 years but are hoping to make amends in the Professional Cricket League which bowls off next month.
“Winning the Four-Day title would mean a lot to the Red Force, bringing a sense of pride back to the team,” said the 22-year-old, who played five of his six first class matches last season.
“The Four-Day title has eluded us since the 2005/2006 season and a win would be a major turning point as we are said to only succeed in the ‘coloured clothes’ format of the game.”
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force … keen on breaking four-day title drought.
Red Force had a rough last season, losing five times in 10 outings to finish third in the standings, as Guyana Jaguars took their third consecutive four-day title.
The previous year, Red Force were fourth after winning just three matches while in 2015, they ended one from bottom with two wins.
In comparison, they have won two of the last three Super50 one-day titles, and Charles said there was a need for Red Force to show more consistency in the longer format.
“I think the Red Force has come up short in the Four-Day as we play intervals of good cricket throughout the game,” he pointed out.
“There will be a good session of cricket followed by a bad session as we are usually in good positions in many game and surrender that due to one bad session of cricket.”
He added: “It is just a matter of keeping focus at the crucial points in the games and there will be better results.” Red Force face a difficult opener when they take on arch-rivals Barbados Pride at Kensington Oval in the first round of the PCL, bowling off October 26. And their campaign is expected to get no easier when they host Jamaica Scorpions at Queen’s Park Oval in the second round from November 2-5.
Charles said preparation would be key if Red Force were to make a strong start to he season. “I think the team can use more preparation heading into the Four-Day tournament, as we are usually slow starters that often catch up during the second part of the season,” he pointed out. “Preparation is a key factor this year as there is no second [half of the season] to catch up as the 10 games are basically back to back this season.” The four-day season wraps up January 21, next year.
