There was a late start and three inspections after two heavy showers, but only four balls were bowled up until the 7p.m. interval when the Digicel Regional Four Day Match between the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and Barbados Pride started at Kensington Oval yesterday with the pink ball.
Opting to field after captain Kevin Stoute won the toss, Barbados only sent down four deliveries bowled by Justin Greaves before the players were forced to scamper from the field because of a heavy shower. The Red Force, opening with Jeremy Solozano and Amit Jangoo, were yet to post any runs.
The scheduled 2 p.m. start was delayed by an hour because of a wet run up at the southern or Malcolm Marshall end.
The covers were removed around 4 p.m. following the first shower but shortly after the rain returned, causing even more damage to the outfield. The umpires inspected at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and again at 6:50 p.m. A decision was made to bring forward the already rescheduled tea interval form 7:30 to 7 p.m. Prior to the start of play three debutants received their Barbados caps from team manager Wendell Coppin. For middle order batsman Aaron Jones, opener Shayne Moseley and pacer Shakeem Clarke, it was a lesson in patience as they spent most of their opening day in the pavilion.
Clarke, son of former West Indies fast bowler Sylvester Clarke, would have been raring to go and was all set to share the new ball with Greaves before the rain denied him the chance of bowling his first ball in first class cricket.
He said he was excited at having the opportunity to play for Barbados and is no longer adversely affected by the expectations of being the son of an outstanding cricketer.
“When I was younger it used to pressure me a lot. Getting older now it doesn’t really pressure me,” Clarke explained.
Moseley’s wait will be even longer than Clarke’s after his captain decided to make the Trinis bat first.
“I had actually prepared myself to bat first. I am a batsman, so I was looking forward to batting. Seeing the guys bat at the Oval in first class cricket it seems to be a good pitch for batting so I was looking forward to that. I have played here quite often, so I can say the pitch is pretty good,” Moseley said.
Jones, who seems set to bat in the crucial number three spot, is not overawed by the responsibility. The diminutive right hander came close to selection last year but treasures the opportunity even more now after missing out last season.
“I was excited before but I feel a bit more hungry to play. Being around the team for a while you learn stuff. You see new stuff, you hear new stuff. I feel I am ready and I’m just going to go,” said Jones.
