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England A prepare to meet Trinidad and Tobago Kate Laven - 10 January 2001
A confident England A camp moves in on the Queen's Park Oval today to start their second round match against Trinidad and Tobago in the Busta Cup.
After their 224-run victory against West Indies B, one of the weakest sides in the tournament, Mark Alleyne's side are expecting a more equal contest over the next four days against a national side featuring four players with Test experience. But despite seven wickets apiece for spinners Rajindra Dhanraj and Dinanath Ramnarine, T & T were badly beaten by the Leeward Islands in the last match and have subsequently employed a psychologist to boost the team's shattered confidence. For England A, no such help is required and the only dilemma faced by Alleyne and his fellow selectors is which players to leave out. The decision will be made later on after a practice session and a close look at the pitch. New arrival Michael Powell, the recently appointed Warwickshire captain flown in to replace the injured David Sales, will spend the next four days in the nets, getting his first taste of Caribbean conditions. The only other certainty is that Ryan Sidebottom will join him in practice as he recovers from a groin strain sustained while batting in the first innings at Grenada which prevented him from bowling in the match. Seamers Paul Franks and Jonathan Lewis are both fresh and raring to go, but one of them is bound to be disappointed after Alex Tudor and Chris Silverwood established themselves as essentials, Tudor taking five wickets and the Yorkshireman proving unlucky despite a series of close calls. Spinning options have broadened after Usman Afzaal's success with the ball against the West Indies youth side. Called up to replace Sidebottom, he responded with three useful wickets and worked his way into contention as an effective all rounder. It is unlikely that selectors will want to thwart his development and while Powell acclimatises, his position at five in the order is almost certain to be retained, leaving room for just one of the specialist spinners, Jason Brown, who took five wickets in Grenada, and Chris Schofield who is anxious to play his part after missing out in the first match. While maximum points against T & T are vital, the role of the England A tour as a developmental process is also paramount in selectors' considerations so the omission of the Lancashire leg-spinner is unlikely. © CricInfo Ltd
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