Fraser brought in for left-handers, says Haynes

Jamaica Scorpions coach Robert Haynes said with the Guyana Jaguars boasting seven left-handed batsmen, it was very important to draft newcomer offspinner Akim Fraser into the squad for today’s Regional Four-day match against the competition’s leading team. The Jamaica Scorpions were seeking a third straight win two weeks ago when the Jaguars broke that streak, and the Scorpions will want to exact revenge against the league leaders. “When we played them in the last game, we realised they had seven left-handers, and with Rovman Powell not available, we decided that we would go for the off-spinner (Fraser) because Nikita Miller is also not available for this game, and we believe the newcomer will create a lot more problems in terms of the left-handers,” Haynes said. After failing to win in their first three matches, the Scorpions rallied and gained victories against the Windward Volcanoes and Leeward Hurricanes before the Guyana Jaguars stopped them in their tracks in their last game. However, to get it right against the defending champions, Haynes, says they will need to continue making improvements to their batting.

“The improvement is not a big one, but at least we are seeing a difference in the way the guys are thinking, I am seeing a difference in attitude and how they (players) go about their business. But at the end of the day, we have to score over 270 runs if we want to be competitive against any team. We only have one batsman (Chadwick Walton) with over 400 runs, and that is not good enough for a team like this with so much potential. A batting unit with one century in six games is really not good enough, and the batsmen will have to improve if we are going to be more competitive,” he insisted.

The Jaguars have an outstanding batting line-up, which includes Vishual Singh, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Anthony Bramble, and Chris Barnwell and coach Rayon Griffith praised his team’s batting, along with the recent appointment of Shivnarine Chanderpaul as his interim assistant coach, as key to their success. “Over the past four years he (Chanderpaul) has played in the team, so he brings a lot of energy. The role is different now, but everyone understands Shiv and knows he’s a hard worker.” Griffith said.

After seven games, the Jaguars lead the table with 112.4 points and they are followed by the Hurricanes with 83.2, Volcanoes 75, Barbados Pride 73.6, Scorpions 59, and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 58.8.

Jamaica Scorpions squad:

Paul Palmer Jr (captain), Oraine Williams, Chadwick Walton, Assad Fudadin, Jermaine Blackwood, Kenroy Williams, Aldane Thomas, Akim Fraser, Derval Green, Brandon King, Reynard Leveridge, Jerome Taylor, and Dennis Bulli.