“Good headache” for Emrit as Evin Lewis targets Red Force return
2026-03-26 - 00:13
Having last played First Class cricket in 2017 against the Guyana Harpy Eagles at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair, Port-of-Spain, aggressive left-handed batsman Evin Lewis has once again made himself available to the T&T Red Force for the upcoming 2026 season. The 34-year-old boasts a First Class average of 30.72 with one century from 22 matches. He has been in scintillating form for Bess Motors Marchin Patriots in the T&T Cricket Board’s (TTCB) Premiership Division I this season; his high score of 232 not out against Merryboys was the second of three consecutive centuries for the dangerous opener so far this season. He also scored 119 against Queen’s Park Cricket Club, and 113 against Powergen Penal Cricket Club. In addition to Lewis, who is averaging 94 in the local Two-Day season, coach Rayad Emrit can call upon Jeremy Solozano, who is averaging 91 with two centuries this campaign. Solozano, who returns to the T&T set-up after a stint with the Windward Islands, is joined by Powergen teammate Cephas Cooper, who also recorded two hundreds and two scores in the 80s for an average of 86. Emrit admits the wealth of talent is a “good headache” to have. “We saw the likes of Jeremy (Solozano) getting runs, Evin Lewis, who has made himself available to the national team,” Emrit said. “He’s another one that’s just a good sign for us, who has been getting runs. (Cephas) Cooper, one of the mainstays of our batters last year. It’s a good headache to have”. The former allrounder, who played three One Day Internationals for West Indies, admitted some players will inevitably be disappointed, it is unavoidable. “It’s no secret that somebody is going to be left out. It’s going to be a tough call for the selectors but it’s a call that we have to make.” However, according to the former Central Sports player and coach, the team will be a good selection of players. “As I said before, it’s a good headache to have. Whoever gets selected, I think whatever team he puts out is going to be a very, very good team. We have the likes of Jyd Goolie, who scored 100 last season in one of the games and missed out, coming down to the back of the tournament.” With Lewis’ availability shaking up the order, selectors must also weigh the form of regulars such as Jyd Goolie, Amir Jangoo, Jason Mohammed, captain and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva, and Navin Bidaisee. The bowling department provides its own set of challenges for the national selectors. Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) alone offers Bryan Charles, Khary Pierre, Yannic Cariah, and Mikkel Govia, and those are just the spinners. Outside of the QPCC contingent, Ricky Jaipaul is the leading spinner in the Two-Day Premier League with 40 wickets, including four ‘fifers’ and a ten-wicket match haul. Meanwhile, seamer Terrance Hinds and Test pacers Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip all command spots in the Red Force attack. “We haven’t called Terrence Hinds as yet. He’s one of the other leading seamers in our attack,” Emrit said. Knowing that some players will be hurt by the final decision, Emrit is taking steps to manage expectations. “I’ve had chats with the guys who are very close to making the squad. If they’re left out, it’s not because they haven’t done well. I think they have done everything they can, possibly can, at this point in time.” T&T Red Force will play Leeward Islands Hurricanes in three matches in Antigua in a revamped Cricket West Indies (CWI) Championship.