Bennett ... expects team effort. - file

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)

National cricket coach Junior Bennett believes that proper execution and all- round team effort will be crucial for success, when Jamaica open the second round of the WICB regional four-day competition at the Queen's Park Oval today.

The Jamaicans defeated the Leeward Islands by six wickets in their opener in St Kitts and picked up maximum 12 points to share the lead with the Windward Islands. However, they have only won twice in the 19 matches they have contested in Trinidad, so the record is not entirely in their favour, and T&T are hoping to use home advantage to jump-start their season.

"We are feeling confident," he said. "It is our second game of the tournament, and we are coming off a victory against the Leewards, which is a positive start for us," he added.

"It is always a challenge playing against T&T, and this game is no exception. I believe that once we play together as a team and execute efficiently, we will be very competitive," he said.

Solid performance

With six points, T&T are currently third in the early standings after taking first innings points in their drawn away game against Barbados in the opening round. Captain of the T&T team Darren Ganga, who celebrated his birthday earlier this week, is looking forward to the Jamaica challenge. He is wary of Jamaica, being a good team, and they are also mindful that they had the better of the Trinidadian last year.

"We had a solid performance against Barbados, and our hallmark this season is to play good and quality cricket," he said. "All the guys are ready and prepared for the Jamaican challenge."

T&T was on the receiving end in last year's competition, when the Jamaicans claimed first innings points in a drawn match in the preliminary rounds, and then won the Challenge final by nine wickets.

"Preparations have been good since our arrival," T&T coach Kelvin Williams said. "We are concentrating a little more on our fielding.

"We have looked at it as a critical area following the game against Barbados. On Wednesday we did a little batting and bowling to ensure the guys remained in shape.

"There is nothing to be disappointed about in our opening game. We just had one bad session on the final day between lunch and tea. We are addressing that problem (fielding), since it was a cause for concern," he said.