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Live in the fast lane!

``This is the era for work!''

Anthony Gray, coach of beaten NorTel finalists Trinidad and Tobago, has given his charges an ``A'' for effort.

But the former West Indies and T&T pacer is charging that for national cricket to be elevated above the status of also-rans, the country must invest in pace.

Gray saw his side play their way into the final of the three-day regional Under-19 tournament, only to lose the key match and the chance of a first title since 1988, on first innings to hosts, Barbados. And while the coach does not fault the overall commitment of his batsmen, he points to the lessons to be learnt from the final.

There, the visitors, chasing a modest total of 228, crumbled for just 145. ``Against Barbados, we had problems handling the new ball,'' Gray admitted.

And conceding that this was not a new problem, the coach urged a systematic approach to the problem.

``We need to build batsmen, pyschologically to face fast bowling,'' says Gray who was the first of the recent wave of T&T quicks that has also produced Test players Ian Bishop, Mervyn Dillon and Test hopeful Marlon Black.

``They need to learn the right technique to play that type of bowling,'' he conitnues.

``They must become accostomed to playing the ball above shoulder height. Batsmen must grow up with our fast bowlers.''

To aid them in this, Gray says, ``We need to quicken up the wickets. We have to focus on getting fast bowlers at a young age and develop them. We have the spinners already so now we have to find the quality fast bowlers.''

Gray's pace policy will be part of a series of proposals that will be put to both the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs in the coming weeks.

But reflecting again on the just-concluded series in Barbados, Gray was generous in his praise of the Zaheer Ali-led outfit.

``It was a pleasure to see young T&T batsmen bat dilligently and concentrate for long periods. We also bowled and fielded very well in the tournament.''

He adds.

``We worked on them mentally and psychologically and they had the confidence. They represented the country very well. Once we hold these guys together and work with them, then we will have a bright cricketing future.''

The three-day effort however, proved far more productive than the showing in the One-day tournament. The tight schedule saw a tired T&T side elimnated by a rested and refreshed Leeward Islands team.

``I don't blame the players, I blame the system,'' says Gray of the One-day failure.

The format of the latter competition is one that the coach would like to see changed to allow at least two days' rest between the shorter and longer games.

But any disappointment over that swift exit cannot damper the coach's enthusiasm about the performance of his charges.

In particular, Gray has kind words for captain Ali, a player who has been under pressure to fulfil his early promise.

``The skipper was real, astute, intelligent. He was consistent, especially in some of the games when we were in trouble. He was very, very mature as captain. We tried to take the strain off him mentally so that he was not under pressure to produce.''

Middle order batsman Aneil Kanhai, who scored 98 out of 396 in what Gray describes as T&T's best display - the semifinal against Guyana -is another who came in for special mention. And if the coach had his way, there would have been more than two local players heading to Sri Lanka next year for the youth World Cup.

``I thought one or two more could have gotten in, Gregory Mahabir and Aneil Kanhai. I thought the captain (Ali) would have been named captain (of the World Cup squad). But that's how it goes sometimes.''

However, there were players among T&T's regional rivals that also caught the eye of the national coach.

``Narsingh Deonarine (Guyanese batsman) looks very good, technically sound. Ryan Hinds (Barbados and WI captain), Marlon Samuels (Jamaican middle order batsman), they are good batsmen,'' notes Gray.

``I was impressed too with offspinner Ryan Austin (Barbados). Although he did not make the final 20 I think he is a very good offspinner. And Jermaine Lawson (Jamaican fast bowler) is pretty quick for his age.''

Optimistic enough is he that the Windies talent pool is once more being filled in, Gray makes this cautious prediction.

``I am adamant that once the right systems are in place, and those in charge have the right background to cope with the youths, West Indies cricket will have a bright future.''