MANAGER of the Jamaica cricket team, Courtney Francis, has downplayed the appearance of ‘ineligible’ fast bowler Andre Russell as a substitute on Friday’s first day of the four-day West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) first-class match against the Windward Islands at Chedwin Park.

The 21-year-old Russell, along with discarded West Indies pacer Daren Powell and off-spinner Bevon Brown, were not considered for selection to the final 13-man squad for this game after violating the team’s disciplinary code.

Young fastbowler Jason Dawes and middle-order batsman Shawn Findlay were included in the 13 named for the first game, but neither was used as substitute fielder when Xavier Marshall went off the field on Friday. Instead, Russell was preferred.

On yesterday’s second day, Francis offered an explanation. “A decision was made at the management level to take disciplinary action against these players. The result is that they would not be considered for selection for the 13-man squad for the first match, but they’re still part of the set-up.

“They still train with the team,” he added, noting that the trio “participated in the three-day practice match at Chedwin Park prior to team selection”, though their fate was already known.

He reiterated that the disciplinary decision was simply an in-house one, and didn’t require the intervention of the Jamaica Cricket Association’s (JCA’s) Disciplinary Committee and that all three players will qualify for selection for the second match “once they find favour with the selectors”.

— AH