By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Rose
THE FINAL practice match to help select Jamaica's 16-man squad for the regional four-day cricket tournament begins this morning at Sabina Park, starting at 10:00.
Franklyn Rose, who missed the last practice game due to injury, is expected to return to the line-up.
However, Gareth Breese, who took the most wickets for Jamaica last season, will once again be missing through a knee injury.
At least 12 of the 16-man squad seem to have already selected themselves and the remaining players 16 of the 28 now being used will have their last chance to impress the selectors over the next four days as the team will be selected on Sunday.
Only two centuries and seven half centuries have been recorded by batsmen so far in the three matches played at Police Ground, Kensington Park and Melbourne Oval.
Brenton Parchment (200) and Donovan Pagon (190), two of the younger members on trial, were the century-makers and this will certainly strengthen their chances.
Captain Robert Samuels and Leon Garrick (two half centuries) seem sure picks.
Maurice Kepple, who scored two half centuries, one in the second match where only one half century was scored, will once again be looking for more runs to follow-up his 60 in the last match.
Other players who will be looking to get some runs in this the final match are Tamar Lambert, Shawn Findlay, 16-year-old Xavier Marshall and Danza Hyatt.
A consolation for the players (Under-23) who do not make the Jamaica squad is that they could get picked for the West Indies 'B' team, which also participates in the competition.
On the bowling side, Daren Powell, Audley Sanson, Franklyn Rose, Gareth Breese and Nehemiah Perry have not done anything special, but based on experience they should be included.
Pacer Jerome Taylor, who took 5-53 in the last match at Melbourne Oval, must be looking for another five-wicket haul, which could make him an automatic choice. There are two other fast bowlers in Andrew Richardson and Dwight Washington, both of whom need to improve a lot.
Left-arm spinners Ryan Cunningham, Phillip Keating and Lorenzo Ingram, leg-spinners Kevin Peart, and Odean Brown who has bowled well so far, are all contending for a spot to be the main spinner in the team.
