Scorpions look to rebound

Head coach Robert Samuels expects Jamaica Scorpions to rebound from their first game loss to Guyana and defeat the Windward Islands Volcanoes in the second round of the WICB Regional Four-day Championship at Sabina Park, starting today.

The match, one of three across the region on the weekend, is set to get under way at 10 a.m.

"Coming out of the first game, we had a lot of pluses despite losing to Guyana," said Samuels, who is in his first stint as head coach.

"We prevented them from getting full batting points. We got some fast-bowling points, and we got some batting points, which, for the last couple of years, we did not get a batting point until about the fifth or sixth round."

"I also mentioned before the start of the season that I want to put a 'team' out on the park, and we did play as a team. We bowled well, we fielded well, and the energy was high.''

IMPROVINGBATTING

Currently fifth in the six-team championship, Jamaica will enter the clash looking to improve on their batting, which yielded totals of 208 and 147 against the Guyanese in their 181-run defeat on the final day.

West Indies middle-order batsman Jermaine Blackwood, with 96 out in the second innings, was the best Scorpion batsmen, while opener John Campbell was next best with 71 in their first time at the bat.

Samuels, a former West Indies opener, also said he was also encouraged heading into the encounter by the fact that the Windwards also lost their opener by nine wickets to the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Queen's Park Oval.

"I am looking forward to this game as we are now at home," continued Samuels, who, last season, was assistant coach to now chairman of selectors, Junior Bennett.

"The Windward Islands also lost their opening game to Trinidad, and as such, the aim is to rebound."

Jamaica have made one change to the squad of 13 for the showdown, with West Indies 'A' fast bowler, Reynard Leveridge replacing injured seamer Jason Dawes.

Leveridge returned home prematurely from the West Indies 'A' team tour of Sri Lanka after picking up a groin injury.

He has subsequently recovered and over the past two weeks, represented the Jamaica Defence Force in the ongoing Jamaica Cricket Association national one-day tournament.

Jamaica Scorpions (from) - Nikita Miller (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Reynard Leveridge, Derval Green, Trevon Griffith, Damion Jacobs, Brandon King, AndrÈ McCarthy, Marquino Mindley, Devon Thomas, Shacaya Thomas, and Chadwick Walton.

Windward Volcanoes (from) - Liam Sebastien (captain), Sunil Ambris, Narsingh Deonarine, Tarryck Gabriel, Kavem Hodge, Delorn Johnson, Mervin Matthew, Kenroy Peters, Jerlani Robinson, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Tyrone Theophile.