J’can quicks fine-tune for four-dayers
JAMAICA’S senior cricket coach Junior Bennett is optimistic of getting his fast bowlers properly fine-tuned in time for the start of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional Four Day Championship on January 8.
During the three Trial games leading up to the squad of 24 being cut to 18, aside from the spinners, only all-rounder Shawn Findlay consistently troubled the batsmen.
“We’re spending some extra time with the fast bowlers, getting them to bowl in the right areas. We evaluated what happened in the Trial matches and even though the wickets were flat, we do not believe they bowled exceptionally well in terms of the areas where they bowled,” he stated.
Bennett added that his coaching staff was already in the process of correcting the problem.
“We’re doing some spot bowling. We’re happy in terms of the improvement that we’re seeing right now,” he said.
Jamaica will host the first-round game against the Windward Islands at Chedwin Park, while Trinidad & Tobago face Combined Campuses and Colleges at Jarrett Park and Barbados tackle the Leeward Islands at Kensington Park.
Meanwhile, technical director James Adams said the Jamaican players are ready for the start of the tournament.
“We’re prepared for the first game and looking to gain maximum points,” said the former West Indies captain.
Adams also revealed that a final inter-squad game will be played before a 13- man team is selected for the match against the Windwards.
“We will have a practice match from December 28 to the 30th and then the chairman of selectors will probably look to name a 13 for the first game after that,” Adams said.
Two-time defending champions Jamaica should welcome back the return of batsman Brendan Nash, who represented the West Indies in the recently concluded Test series in Australia.
In the meantime, captain Chris Gayle has remained in Australia to play in their domestic Big Bash Twenty20 competition and may miss the entire tournament, while injured pacer Jerome Taylor remains in doubt.