Jamaica v Guyana at Kingston

EXPERIENCED wrist spin bowler Odean Brown has been recalled to the Jamaica cricket set-up after being overlooked for last season's first-class tournament as well as the start of the new campaign.

The Jamaica Observer understands that Brown, 32, was named among 13 players in the Tamar Lambert-captained squad to face Guyana in the Regional Four-day Match at Sabina Park in Kingston, starting tomorrow.

The leg-spinner, who made his debut in 2004, last played for Jamaica against Trinidad & Tobago in May 2013. Thereafter he had done surgery to correct a knee ailment and was fit enough to return for preseason training, but was not selected.

He was also left out for the first half of the new season as his replacement, Damion Jacobs, also a leg-spinner, continued where he left off the previous campaign with a number of match-winning bowling spells.

But Brown's opening finally came due to the void left by his longtime spin bowling partner Nikita Miller, who was called to the West Indies squad for the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

It is likely that Brown, who has taken 240 wickets in 62 first-class matches at an average of 22.28, will join Jacobs in the eleven for tomorrow's clash.

The other front line bowlers in the squad are pacers Marquino Mindley, Jason Dawes, David Bernard and left-armer Gavan Brown. The batsmen are openers Nkrumah Bonner and left-hander John Campbell, as well as Lambert, young West Indies player Jermaine Blackwood and Shacaya Thomas.

Carlton Baugh, who was dropped for the recent Nagico Super50 tournament, is expected to take the wicketkeeping gloves. Horace Miller, Baugh's replacement for the 50-over competition, is more known for his work with the bat and could play solely as a batsman.

Jamaica are second in the point standings with 50 points, while Guyana lead with 57.

— Sanjay Myers

JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM

Jamaica Tallawahs' assistant coach Junior Bennett is satisfied with the composition of his squad following the Limacol/Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T/20 Draft at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew yesterday.

The Tallawahs picked Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene in round two of the draft for US $100,000. Captain Chris Gayle was already retained in round one for US $150,000.

Jayawardene, apart, the other overseas players in Tallawahs' team include Daniel Vettori of New Zealand, Rusty Theron of South Africa and Australia's Chris Lynn.

"We are definitely satisfied, as when we looked at the performance of the team over the past two seasons, we have made the necessary adjustments," Bennett told The Gleaner.

"We expect the squad to do well. I really expect them to perform," he said.

Jamaica Tallawahs won the inaugural league in 2013 and lost at the semi-final round last year.

The Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel picked up retired South Africa international Jacques Kallis in round two of the draft for US$100,000.

The picks went from a high of US $150,000 to a low of US $5,000.. The Limacol/CPL T/20 is set to start in June.

SQUADS

The full Jamaica Tallawahs squad reads: Chris Gayle, Mahela Jayawardene, Chris Lynn, Andre Russell, Jerome Taylor, Chadwick Walton, Nikita Miller, Krismar Santokie, Narsingh Deonarine, David Bernard Jnr., Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood and Horace Miller.

Barbados Tridents: Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Smith, Ravi Rampaul, Jason Holder, Rayad Emrit, Dilshan Munaweera, Jonathan Carter, Justin Ontang, Akeal Hosein, Navin Stewart, Shai Hope and Kyle Corbin.

Guyana Amazon Warriors: Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin, Christopher Barnwell, Lasith Malinga, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Thisara Perera, Brad Hodge, Veersammy Permaul, Ronsford Beaton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Devendra Bishoo, Trevol Griffith, Assad Fudadin and Paul Wintz.

St Kitt/Nevis Franchise: Carlos Braithwaite, Devon Thomas, Oralando Peters, Justin Athanaze, Shahid Afridi, Marlon Samuels, Sohail Tanvir, Sheldon Cottrell, Martin Guptill, Ewin Lewis, Raymond Reifier, Tabriaz Shamsi, Tonito Willett, Nicolas Pooran and Jacques Taylor,

St Lucia Zooks: Darren Sammy, Kevin Pieterson, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Ross Taylor, Shakib Al Hasan, Shannon Gabriel, Henry Davids, Fidel Edwards, Kemar Roach, Shane Shillingford, Kyle Mayers, Keddy Lesporis, Liam Sebastien, and Delorn Johnson.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel: Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Samuel Badree, Kevon Cooper, Jacques Kallis, Johan Botha, Kamran Akmal, Cameron, Delport, Sulieman Benn, Jason Mohammad, Marlon Richards, Miguel Cummins, Jason Searles, William Perkins and Derone Davis.

Georgetown, Guyana - Frontrunners Guyana Jaguars will aim to stretch their lead when they play hosts Jamaica as the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League Regional Four-Day Competition enters the fifth round with matches in three venues from today.

The Jaguars are currently on 57 points after outright victories over Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Windward Islands Volcanoes and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, but will face a stern test against the Jamaicans, who are  in second place, with seven fewer points.

The Guyanese will have history against them as they failed to get the better of the Jamaicans the last time the two teams met in a First-Class game when the latter beat the former by seven wickets at Sabina Park.

However, the Jaguars are boasting a full contingent of players, including five Test players, in their line-up.

The Jamaicans will have to contend with the class and experience of West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul along with Leon Johnson and Narsingh Deonarine.

While that trio are the headliners, the batting department also includes silky top-order player Rajendra Chandrika and swashbuckling Christopher Barnwell and Ramond Reifer.

The hosts will also face a stern test against West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, who both are in ripping form.

The bowling unit also features long-limbed pace bowler Ronsford Beaton and the left-armer Reifer.

Meanwhile, head coach Esaun Crandon told the Jamaica Observer after the Guyanese arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport on Wednesday that the main aim is to stay atop of the points table at the end of the Jamaica clash.

“The most important thing is the mindset and the guys are focused and we are back to full strength against Jamaica and our mission is to win and stay atop the table.”

Despite Jamaica, the four-day powerhouse over the last decade, having the upper hand over Guyana at Sabina in recent times, Crandon was

positive that his team could finally turn the tables.

“We are optimistic of our chances and we are a confident group. We haven’t had much success over the years in Jamaica, but this is an opportunity for us to do it,” Crandon said.

On the other hand, Jamaica on the heels of three wins against the Windward Islands, T&T and the Leeward Islands have recalled the experienced wrist spinner Odean Brown.

Brown was overlooked for last season’s First-Class tournament as well as the start of this new campaign.

The leg-spinner, who made his debut in 2004, last played for Jamaica against Trinidad and Tobago in May 2013. Thereafter, he had surgery to correct a knee ailment and was fit enough to return for preseason training, but was not selected.

Brown’s call-up came after the void left by his long-time spin bowling partner Nikita Miller, who was called to the West Indies squad for the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

It is likely that Brown, who has taken 240 wickets in 62 First-Class matches at an average of 22.28, will join Jacobs in the 11 for today’s clash.

The other frontline bowlers in the squad are pacers Marquino Mindley, Jason Dawes, David Bernard and left-armer Gavan Brown. The batsmen are openers Nkrumah Bonner and left-hander John Campbell, as well as Captain Tamar Lambert, young West Indies player Jermaine Blackwood, and Shacaya Thomas.

Carlton Baugh, who was dropped for the recent Nagico Super50 tournament, is expected to take the wicketkeeping gloves. Horace Miller, Baugh’s replacement for the 50-over competition, is more known for his work with the bat and could play solely as a batsman.

Other fifth-round matches will see hosts Barbados playing Leeward Islands at the Kensington Oval, while Windward Islands oppose Trinidad and Tobago at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia.

First Published In The Guyana Times.

GUY 56-2 (21) Johnson 21, Reifer 4

98/3 lunch