Janeiro training with squad

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25: World Cup veterans Lionel Cann and Janeiro Tucker were out training on Tuesday.

It was the first session for the national cricket team ahead of the ICC World Twenty/20 Qualifier scheduled to take part in the UAE next year. There are 16 teams in the tournament and the top six move on to the ICC World T20.

Tucker’s availability over the past few years has been hampered by knee problems.

He said: “I’m out at training and seeing how it goes. I’m seeing if I can get into better shape and see how it goes from there.”

He said the recovery from patella tendinitis has been a slow road.

“Overall my knee is about 85-90 per cent.”

He said the T20 qualifier interests him as a “shorter version of the game and quicker. I have to make sure I’m in shape and healthy.”

Tucker said he plans to attend training sessions in his bid to make the squad next year.

“I’m going to train and if the coach (David Moore) is satisfied with what I’m doing in training and how I’m progressing then it will be up to the coach’s discretion.

“I’m going to do what I can, and if it works out, I’ll be there.

“There’s no guarantee I’ll make the squad. I have to put in the work just like everybody else.”

Cann said it was good to see Tucker at training and the guys who showed up for Tuesday’s training were serious about doing their best to make the squad.

“It’ good to have the guys out before the festive season.

Concentrating

“It’s good to have guys get back to the focus of cricket.

Cann said the numbers were down for the first session, but that could be expected.

“It usually is the first three sessions before guys really get out as they know training is back in session.”

Cann said he, like Tucker, will be concentrating on his fitness to start with.

“Leading up to Christmas it’s easy to put on weight and guys are eating all sorts of different stuff.

“I’m focused on being disciplined and maintaining my body mass.

“As we get closer to the Twenty/20 we’ll focus on technique.”