BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Fast bowler Daren Powell and in-form batsman Brendan Nash are in Jamaica’s squad to face Barbados in this weekend’s WICB Regional Four-day championship in Barbados.
Both players have been omitted from the West Indies squad for Sunday’s Twenty20 International against England in Trinidad and will use the regional first-class fixture to sustain their competitive mode.
With five wins, one defeat and two draws, defending champions Jamaica lead the title race with 72 points, 12 ahead of the Windward Islands (60), and team manager Deron Dixon welcomes Nash and Dixon into the unit.
“We are looking forward to them participating and making us an even stronger unit,” Dixon told CMC Sport yesterday.
Nash and Powell replace Xavier Marshall and Jason Dawes in the Jamaica squad and Dixon believes the stage is set for the incoming pair to do well in the domestic fixture.
“Well Nash, who got a Test century over the weekend is clearly in good form, while Powell has not had things much going his way recently and I am sure he will want to prove his worth here,” Dixon said.
Marshall is axed from the side after moderate returns in five games for Jamaica after he was dropped from the West Indies squad.
The 22-year-old Marshall, who played the first Test against England at Sabina Park in early February, has scored just 215 runs in nine innings for an average of 23.88 and Dixon expects that he should rebound.
“Marshall is a youngster with talent. He realizes this is a competitive set up and I am sure he is taking it (his omission) in stride. He should realize there is a lot in store for him in terms of his career, Dixon said.
The Jamaica squad trained yesterday morning and will have another net session this afternoon before tackling Barbados from tomorrow.
JAMAICA SQUAD – Tamar Lambert (captain), Wavell Hinds, Brenton Parchment, Brendan Nash, Dave Bernard Jr, Danza Hyatt, Andrew Richardson, Odean Brown, Donovan Pagon, Carlton Baugh, Nikita Miller, Daren Powell, Gavin Wallace.
