Ganga targets return to Windies setup
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad & Tobago captain Daren Ganga says his New Year wish is to re-establish himself in the West Indies team.
The right-handed opener, who turns 31 later this month, has not played for the regional squad in two years but said this week he was looking to score heavily in the upcoming WICB regional first class season to force his way into the selection frame.
“I intend to push hard to get back into international cricket for the New Year. In order to do this, I know that I have to impress the West Indies selection panel and in order to do this, I have to increase the quantity of runs I produce,” said Ganga.
“I still think that I have the quality to perform at the top level and I would really like to make a contribution at that level. My form is currently good and I am looking forward to taking that into the regional series and getting some good scores.”
West Indies will host South Africa in three Tests starting in May this year and Ganga will be eyeing this series to make a possible return.
He has played 48 Tests but last saw Windies colours in South Africa in 2008, where he struggled badly with a mere 117 runs from six innings.
He was dropped on his return to the Caribbean and remained in the wilderness until late last year when he re-entered the selection frame as a possible candidate to lead the West Indies to Australia.
Overall, Ganga has scored 2160 runs at an average of 25.71. He has managed just three centuries in 86 innings, though taking back-to-back hundreds off Australia in the 2003 Home Series.
Ganga said he was also hoping to lead T&T to the capture of the first class title in the season which bowls off in Jamaica next weekend.
“We have the regional first class cricket series that’s upon us and my aim is to win this title for T&T,” Ganga stressed.
“I am hoping for yet another successful year for T&T and that we win the first class title, that has eluded us for a while.”
T&T face Combined Campuses and Colleges in the opening series of matches which run from January 8-11.