And despite a shadow hanging over the fitness of trusted wicketkeeper David Williams, when he leads his team out, the captain will be hoping that it will be to the first of five Cup-clinching victories. Lara, who took over the reins of West Indies cricket from Courtney Walsh last week and celebrated immediately with an unbeaten double century in the Gerry Gomez Memorial North/South classic, is quietly confident his side can beat the Windwards in the four-day encounter, which gets going at 10 a.m.
``We have done well against them in the two games last year and we intend to get full points again this year,'' stated the left-hander who also pointed out that with the revised five-match schedule, ``we need to go out front as early as possible.''
But while Lara is hopeful of a triumphant start to the competition, there is some concern about the fitness of Williams and Mervyn Dillon. The West Indies players sat out last weekend's Classic with injuries. But according to chairman of selectors Rangy Nanan, Dillon has recovered from the injury to his right elbow and will play.
Nanan is also optimistic that Williams, who injured the little finger on his right hand in the Champions Cup final in Sharjah, will start. But should he not be fit, either middle-order batsman and makeshift wicketkeeper Keno Mason, or former national U-19 keeper Amarnath Basdeo could fill the vital position.
Williams will be seriously missed if he does not make it. But with West Indies quickie Ian Bishop, former Test leg-spinner Rajindra Dhanraj, as well as West Indies ``A'' bowlers Dinanath Ramnarine and Nigel Francis fit and ready, Dillon could afford to rest. The hosts will also put confidence in a competent batting line-up bolstered by West Indies all-rounder Philip Simmons and West Indies ``A'' opener Suruj Ragoonath. They will back up Lara who should return to No 3 where he batted in the Classic.
Lara will also be hoping for quality assistance from North/South century-maker Lincoln Roberts, Richard Smith and Denis Rampersad, should he earn the final batting spot. But despite T&T's impressive record against the Windwards and the depth of the local team, Lara must still respect the opposition, especially with Richie Richardson in the side.
The former WI captain will be playing in a regional match for the first time since retiring from Test cricket in 1995. The veteran of 13 seasons for the Leeward Islands will be making his debut for the Windwards. Manager Vincent Eldwin stated that the 36-year-old Antiguan will not only strengthen the batting but also teach the players how to approach the game in a more professional manner.
Richardson, skipper and former WI keeper Junior Murray, Test leg-spinner Rawl Lewis and Windies ``A'' fast bowler Nixon McLean will form the nucleus of the side which Eldwin described ``as good as any (in the competition) on paper''.
Eldwin is not intimidated by a T&T side, which includes eight players who have recently done duty for the West Indies. ``The guys are very motivated and I believe we are going to give Trinidad and Tobago a real run for their money,'' he stated confidently.
TEAMS:
T&T : Brian Lara (captain), Suruj Ragoonath, Anil Balliram, Philip Simmons, Denis Rampersad, Lincoln Roberts, Richard Smith, David Williams, Ian Bishop, Nigel Francis, Dinanath Ramnarine, Rajindra Dhanraj, Mervyn Dillon, Keno Mason.
WINDWARD ISLANDS: Junior Murray (captain), Rawl Lewis, Dawnley Joseph (vice-captain), Roy Marshall, Caspar Davis, McNeil Morgan, Nixon McLean, Balty Watt, Vernon Dumas, Joseph Parillon, John Sylvester, Richie Richardson, Uzzah Pope.