Cottrell looking to make ‘big statement’

West Indies fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell, who has been sidelined by injury, is eyeing the impending WICB NAGICO Super50 Tournament as the perfect launch pad to solidify his comeback when he turns out for the Jamaica Scorpions.

The left-arm seamer, who has been making steady strides in the limited-overs arena in recent years, recently recovered from a knee injury that he sustained during a West Indies training camp last summer.

Since then, the 26-year-old has gone on to represent Jamaica Scorpions in two matches in the WICB First-Class Championship, which is currently on a midseason break.

"For me, it (Super50) is a comeback tournament, and I want to make a big statement," he explained.

"I am coming off a knee injury and have been steadily getting in the groove since, and this tournament, I want to finish high on the bowling list."

Cottrell, who has been particularly good in Twenty20 matches and has been a leading figure in the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20, is set to spearhead Jamaica's bowling attack in the absence of fellow West Indian Jerome Taylor, who is currently in Australia.

Taylor, like batsman Jermaine Blackwood, is earmarked to join the Jamaica team after their first three group-stage matches. The team is scheduled to play six matches, and Cottrell wants to make a big impact.

"With me likely to lead the bowling attack, I intend to be aggressive up top and take wickets," he said.

"I want to make batsmen as uncomfortable as much as possible, with regard to my pace and control. If I am able to do that, I know it will be better for me to take wickets, which should put the team in better positions to win matches."

Cottrell has represented the West Indies in two one-day internationals, six Twenty20 internationals, and two Tests.

The Scorpions' other specialist fast bowler in the 14-man ssquad is the up-and-coming Marquino Mindley.

GORDON ADDED

Reserve pacer Nicholson Gordon, in the meantime, has been added to the squad as cover until Taylor joins the team.

Champions of the regional one-day showpiece event five years ago, Jamaica Scorpions are slated to face stiff competition in the group stage of the Super50 tournament.

Pitted in Group A, they will battle co-hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and Barbados Pride for one of the two available semi-final spots. Guest team ICC Americas is the group's other contestant.

The other two-semi-finalists will come from Group Two, which includes Guyana, co-hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners and Windward Island Volcanoes.

Jamaica will bow into action tomorrow against Trinidad at Queen's Park Oval in a day/night encounter. Match time is 12:30 p.m. Jamaica time.