Battle Royal at Guaracara Park

While the question of the ownership of the rights to harvest the long standing Bajan delicacy, flying fish rages on between fellow Caricom heads of state Owen Arthur and Patrick Manning, the cricket teams of the respective countries were preparing to engage in a Battle Royal at Guaracara Park in Trinidad and Tobago.

Barbados, having already sewn up the preliminary round points phase of the First Class championships, with a maximum of 72 points from six outright victories, are chasing history. If they manage to beat Trinidad they will become the first team to win all their matches via outright victory since the two-tier format was implemented in 2001.

However, just like any red-blooded Tobagonian would quickly tell you that flying fish, even though claimed by Barbados and immortalized on everything from Barbados postage stamps to bric-a-brac sold in the many tourist traps dotting Barbados, really does belong to Tobago, Trinidad has had its moment against Barbados. In nineteen engages at this level, Trinidad has won eight matches to Barbados' six with five ending in a draw. As for games held at Guaracara, like sundry Bajan pots have been the final resting place of many a disputed flying-fish, the Bajans have come up empty when playing at this venue.

Trinidad will be at full strength with Brian Lara, Merv Dillon, Daren Ganga, Dave Mohammed and Ricardo Powell -- who might wonder what all the fuss about flying-fish is about -- available. While Barbados will have their full pace battery present and ready to do battle, including Tino Best who traveled to Trinidad even though he missed the last game through injury, in case he may be needed. Who ever said that cricket bragging rights, and flying-fish rights are not important?

If there is anything offsetting Trini opprobrium at having their flying-fish harvested from under their noses is the impending Carnival celebrations slated for February 23rd and 24th of next week. With the festivities already at full swing, and Brian Lara's fete extravaganza scheduled for Sunday night on the grounds of his palatial mansion overlooking Port-of-Spain, one wonders whether the Trinidadian team will be able to muster the necessary focus to prevail against a formidable and focused opponent.

So, while Manning and Arthur arm wrestle at the UN over a "compulsory and binding arbitration process" and argue about such things as punitive trade tariffs and Maritime boundaries, cricket fans will choose sides and cheer their champions on, flying fish be damned. I for one have eaten flying-fish and it ent nothing special.

SQUADS:

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Daren Ganga (captain), Shazam Babwah, Marlon Black, Dwayne Bravo, Mervyn Dillon, Reyad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga, Amit Jaggernauth, Imran Jan, Aneil Kanhai, Brian Lara, Theodore Modeste, Dave Mohammed, Gibran Mohammed, Ricardo Powell, Rodney Sooklal.

BARBADOS: Courtney Browne (captain), Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Ian Bradshaw, Sherwin Campbell, Corey Collymore, Pedro Collins, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Antonio Mayers, Martin Nurse, Floyd Reifer, Dwayne Smith, Kurt Wilkinson.