A doctor's report yesterday ruled Baliram out of action for at least six weeks after he was diagnosed with torn fibres in his left knee. The right-handed opener suffered the injury while batting in T&T's first innings against the Windward Islands last week and did not take the field in the second innings as a result.
With Balliram out, the dooris now open for Denis Rampersad to make his first start this season in the middle order. And the selectors last night called up Ken Hazel to keep the squad at 13.
Skipper Brian Lara pointed out that T&T had been hoping to field their best possible team against an ``always strong'' Leewards unit. And the return to action of Williams and Dillon, he said, would give the team a boost.
``Their return gives us a lot of experience and is just what we need. Of course Dillon is a West Indian player and Williams is a West Indian player and I don't need to tell you what a great asset they are to the team.''
Both men missed the opening game against the Windwards through to injury, Williams having problems with his little finger and Dillon a sore elbow.
Dillon will add more depth to a bowling attack which includes Ian Bishop, Man-of-the-Match in the last game with a match-haul of nine wickets, Nigel Francis, Simmons, Dinanath Ramnarine and Rajindra Dhanraj.
And skipper Lara pointed to Williams' input in the batting, which let the side down in the first innings against the Windwards.
``At the end of the Windward Islands game we assessed our performance and I think the guys were lacking in some areas. I think our batting has got to make a big score in the first innings,'' Lara explained.
``Of course we did bowl well but the Windward Islands tail in both innings did stay a long time to be removed and we are going to work on that.''
He added that they were also hoping for a good Oval wicket which would cater for both pace-where he was certain T&T would match the Leewards-and spin.
Lara's opposite number Stuart Williams expressed relief at having been retained in the West Indies squad for the First Test. But his team lost their opening game to Barbados on Monday so he has to be concerned about the performance in this game. ``We know where we went wrong in Barbados,'' he explained.
``We didn't bat well and that is our strongest point. I mean, not taking anything from (Curtly) Ambrose and (Kenny) Benjamin, once we didn't bat well I knew we were going to struggle. But once we come here and do what we have to do and play to the best of our ability, I know we will put on a good show.''
Apart from Ambrose, Benjamin and spinner Warrington Phillip in the bowling department, the Leewards also have the services of former West Indies player Keith Arthurton, the promising Dave Joseph and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs in their batting line-up.
``I think we have a very balanced team, one of the most balanced in the competition,'' Williams said, ``and once we play to our true potential, we will do well.'' Lara is certain to have a different view.
In other games today, Barbados host Guyana at the Kensington Oval while the Windwards are also home to Jamaica at Windsor Park in Dominica.
T&T: Brian Lara (Capt), Suruj Ragoonath, Phil Simmons, Denis Rampersad, Lincoln Roberts, Richard Smith, David Williams, Nigel Francis, Mervyn Dillon, Ian Bishop, Rajindra Dhanraj, Dinanath Ramnarine, Ken Hazel.
Leewards: Stuart Williams, Lanville Harrigan, Ronald Powell, Junie Mitchum, Keith Arthurton, Dave Joseph, Ridley Jacobs, Kenny Benjamin, Curtly Ambrose, Carl Tuckett, Warrington Phillip, Alex Adams, Whitmore Quinn.