Trinidad and Tobago Red Force strength and conditioning coach Ronald Rogers believes the inclusion of T&T’s international players Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine and Darren Bravo in the Super50 training squad has brought a sense of professionalism to their sessions.
The trio missed T&T’s first four Professional Cricket League four-day games but have since resumed training with the Red Force outfit.
Bravo and Narine will be training with a view to making the West Indies World Cup side after they were named in the provisional 30-man squad while Rampaul is eager to regain his place in the regional side after being left out of the World Cup 30.
Speaking about the fitness of the team, Rogers said: “As a strength and conditioning coach you will never be 100 percent satisfied with where the guys are but given the limitations we have faced, we were able to get some strength work in but in terms of our conditioning we have been hampered by the rain but overall the preparations have been on an acceptable level.”
Asked about the fitness of Bravo, Narine and Rampaul, Rogers said “The guys who have joined the team have brought a sense of professionalism, not just the session but allowing the youngsters guys to see what it takes to get to the next level.”
“Ravi always brings in a really professional approach to the fitness sessions, in fact he is almost like the leader of the sessions and he gets guys to follow him,” Rogers explained.
Rampaul took the previous two months off to be with his wife for the birth of his first child in Miami.
Speaking about Bravo, Rogers said the stylish middle order batsman was 100 per cent focused.
Bravo had previously asked not to be considered for selection for the current South Africa series due to personal reasons.
“Darren, I am very happy to say that he has been absolutely focused. He gets to the sessions. There is not much talk, we just see him locked on and doing what he is asked to do,” Rogers said of the left-hander.
Rogers also praised the commitment of Narine who he said has shown a lot of improvement.
“Sunil has been with us day in and day out and he is one of the guys who I can say actually came a long way, given where he was and where he is now, I have seen the progress with him and I have seen a greater commitment to improving from him,” Rogers said of the off-spinner.
Though “satisfied” so far, Rogers says they still have work to do and will be hoping for better weather in the coming days as they intensify their preparations for the Super50.
