Borde wants strong CPL start

Borde wants strong CPL start
JELANI BECKLES Friday, June 17 2016



Despite a triumphant ending to their 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League campaign, few might recall the poor start to the CPL last year by the Red Steel - now the Trinbago Knight Riders.

This time around, Trinbago Knight Riders manager Colin Borde is hoping for a strong start in this year’s tournament which bowls off on June 29.

The Dwayne Bravo-led team struggled out of the blocks last year, winning only two of their first five matches, which were all played away from home but made it up a string of wins in their latter matches on home soil to squeeze into the semi-finals.

This year TT will play their first four matches at home at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain and Borde is anticipating positive results. “It is good to start off at home. Certainly we are comfortable here, we have the crowd support and we have Sunil (Narine) who plays for Queen’s Park, we have Kevon Cooper, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Bravo.

They are all Queen’s Park boys. This is their home ground and Sulieman Benn has played here for many years as well. We are hoping that at the end of the day we kick off really well. You got to start a tournament really well so you have some wiggle room during the middle of the tournament.” Speaking about team preparations, Borde said: “We are on target now. The last couple months have been really hectic in terms of sewing up all the contracts and ticketing. We are ready to go, the team will assemble by Sunday and training camp starts on Monday.” The Knight Riders will play two practice matches on June 25 and 26, and Borde said these matches will be important in building cohesion within the team. “Part of the team will be here for the practice matches. It gives the coach (Simon Helmot) an opportunity to look at positions in batting and bowling.” He added, “Practice matches allow the team to develop strategies in a game situation and it is an opportunity for all the players to make a claim for themselves.

All the players are trying to make it into the team.” Borde said the practice matches give the younger players such as former national Under-19 cricketer Anderson Phillip, the chance to make a statement and get into the starting 11.

The Knight Riders manager believes the tournament will be competitive. “It is going to be tough certainly when you look at all the teams and the new names that have come in. It is going to be very exciting. It is cricket so we never know on the day what will happen. I think we have an incredibly strong team. We have the home support so we are hoping to start really well. The end result will be determined by who wants it more and who plays more consistently.” Borde is also happy to have Helmot coaching the team again.

“Simon has done a wonderful job, this is his third year. Of course he led us to victory last year. He is very clear on the systems that are put in place. As a management unit we understand exactly what we need to do. We have a couple new players but all experienced players coming in and with someone like Dwayne Bravo leading the team, Simon coaching the team and Jacques Kallis joining us I think we are set for a really good showing.”

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