Next February, Cricket West Indies (CWI) will host the Regional Four-Day Championship and in March, West Indies will tour South Africa.
TT Red Force fast bowler Jayden Seales has been ruled out of action for approximately four months owing to an injury to his left knee.
Red Force coach David Furlonge said Injured Seals’ absence For the Red Force’s upcoming four-day matches is a big blow, but they are prepared with alternate pacers.
There is also the possibility of the selection of fellow top TT pacers Anderson Phillips and Shannon Gabriel for the tour of South Africa in March, which will also hurt the Red Force’s pace attack in the four-day series.
Speaking at the National Cricket Center in Couva, Red Force coach Furlonge said;
“When we look at our fast bowling stock, if Seales, Phillip and Gabriel are away on West Indies duty, we are left with a very inexperienced fast bowling line-up.”
“So we are looking to see how best we can prepare fast bowlers. Plenty of the younger fast bowlers would have never played a three-day game, far less a four-day game. It will take a toll on them to be prepared on time.”
“We’ve stepped up our work on our fast bowlers that we have available to get fit and bowl 15 overs in a day. We have to make sure we have the right reserves in place that we could put up a challenge. We’re making more demands of them and hopefully, they’re up for the challenge.”
Besides, mystery spinner Sunil Narine is also unavailable for the four-day selection as he is playing leagues in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
However, the Red Force head coach said that Narine has indicated that he will compete for the CG Insurance Super50 trophy when he returns.
“To have Sunil as one of the white ball players we look forward to having him whenever he is available.”
Also, The Red Force will be missing several key players this year and have the potential to field an inexperienced team. However, Furlong said he will rely on the younger players at this year’s TT.
“Da Silva is expected to be with the four-day team for the first two games and may be back for the final three games. But West Indies has a 50-over tour against South Africa when the last three games are to be played.”
“But we have Amir Jangoo there, young Leonardo Julien…we have a young side but hopefully they do well. Once they prepare well, they will do well in the tournament.”