In the Trinidad and Tobago squad list for the Red Stripe Bowl,innocuously slotted between D Ramnarine and LA Roberts, is acombination of six letters that, oddly enough, spells a five-letterword.The six letters are BC Lara, and the five-letter word is

Samanth Subramanian01-Oct-2001In the Trinidad and Tobago squad list for the Red Stripe Bowl,innocuously slotted between D Ramnarine and LA Roberts, is acombination of six letters that, oddly enough, spells a five-letterword.The six letters are BC Lara, and the five-letter word is “magic.”Lara’s return from a prolonged hamstring injury, coupled with thereturn of cricket in the West Indies after a four-month hiatus, bodeswell for the 2001 edition of the Red Stripe Bowl. The absence of ahectic international schedule, moreover, ensures that a number ofinternational players will turn out for their respective sides in whatis definitely the Caribbean’s singularly important domestictournament.Apart from Lara, speedster Mervyn Dillon and Daren Ganga figure in theTrinidad and Tobago squad. While Ganga tries to get selectors to lookpast what has been a tepid international career, Dillon will be hopingto project himself as a bowler capable of becoming the spearhead ofthe West Indian pace battery.Jamaica’s squad list reads, for the initial part at least, virtuallylike the squad list of the international team. Robert Samuels, WavellHinds, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Leon Garrick make up the firstfive names, while a stick of dynamite in the form of Ricardo Powell istucked away further down the list. If top-class exposure were the onlycriterion to go on, Jamaica would samba away with the cup unopposed.There is, however, that strange animal termed talent, and this iswhere Guyana gets a look in. Led by a rejuvenated Carl Hooper andincluding Shivnarine Chanderpaul in its ranks, Guyana also boastsRamnaresh Sarwan, he of the unending press coverage during the WestIndies’ tour to England. In the bowling department is Reon King, afast bowler who Colin Croft considers the “best of the young group.”The fourth team to be unusually well endowed with internationalplayers is Barbados, captained by West Indian opener Sherwin Campbell.Pace bowler Corey Collymore, wicket keeper Courtney Browne and batsmanPhilo Wallace find spots in the squad.History shows, however, that the presence of West Indian stars is noguarantee of victory. Last year’s champions, Windward Islands,included only players that were no longer being considered forselection to the international team. Precisely these players, such asJunior Murray, Cameron Cuffy, and Rawl Lewis, piloted the side toshock wins over heavyweights Jamaica and Guyana.The West Indies Cricket Board’s efforts to expand the base of regionalcompetition, however, see a division of the current champions intoNorthern and Southern Windward Islands sides. Northern Windwards willbe drawn from Dominica and St. Lucia while Southern Windwards teamwill come from St. Vincent and Grenada.Northern Windwards, in fact, kicks off the tournament on October 2with a Zone A Match against Jamaica. Zone B commences in Guyana with amatch between Barbados and Antigua. The final of the tournament isscheduled for October 14 at Kaiser, Jamaica.