In a move that blends nostalgia with current form, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force have turned to experience, recalling veteran opener Evin Lewis for the upcoming West Indies Championship.
For Lewis, it marks a long-awaited return to the four-day format at the domestic level, having last represented Trinidad and Tobago in first-class cricket back in 2017. Now 34, his inclusion signals both a reward for recent excellence and a strategic reinforcement of the batting unit.
The recall is far from sentimental.
Lewis has been in commanding form during the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Premier Division Championships, compiling a string of dominant innings that demanded attention.
An unbeaten 232 against Merryboys, followed by scores of 113 versus Powergen Penal and 106 against Prisons, underlined a resurgence that selectors could not ignore.
His return also aligns with international developments, as he prepares to step in for the injured Lendl Simmons in the West Indies setup for the upcoming World T20 tournament.
High stakes, hard decisions
While Lewis’s inclusion headlines the squad, the omissions tell an equally compelling story.
Despite outstanding numbers, Jeremy Solozano and Ricky Jaipaul were both left out, decisions that highlight the intense competition for places.
Solozano amassed 593 runs in 12 matches at a remarkable average of 74.1, while Jaipaul leads the Premier Division wicket charts. Yet neither performance proved enough to secure a spot in the final 13.
Head coach Rayad Emrit acknowledged the difficulty of the selection process.
“Solozano, yes, he scored a double century. We have Evin Lewis who has over 500 runs. We have Cephas Cooper, who has been scoring runs consistently in every single tournament that he played in.
“There’s also Ricky Jaipaul, who has the most wickets so far and still didn’t make the final 13… so it is very difficult.”
Leadership and balance
The squad will once again be led by Joshua Da Silva, whose steady leadership anchors a group built on both experience and emerging talent.
With a mix of established performers and rising prospects, the Red Force appear intent on striking a balance between stability and evolution as they head into a crucial stretch of the season.
The immediate task awaits in Antigua, where Trinidad and Tobago will face the Leeward Islands Volcanoes in a three-match series beginning April 12.
With selection debates already fueling conversation, the spotlight now shifts to execution, where reputations, returns, and omissions will all be tested on the field.
In recalling Lewis while overlooking other standout performers, selectors have made their stance clear: form matters, but so does impact, experience, and fit.
Now, the challenge for the Red Force is to justify those decisions where it counts most, between the wickets.
Squad: Joshua Da Silva (captain), Cephas Cooper, Evin Lewis, Amir Jangoo, Jason Mohammed, Yannic Cariah, Terrence Hinds, Khary Pierre, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, Bryan Charles, Jyd Goolie, Joshua James.
