By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterGARETH BREESE has been retained as Jamaica's captain for the upcoming regional one-day tournament, the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) said yesterday.
Three days ago, West Indies' captain Brian Lara identified opening batsman Chris Gayle as a future leader. However, the chairman of Jamaica's selection panel, Ruddy Williams, said: "We can't just jump because (Brian) Lara says jump, although we thought about it.
"We have to do these things slowly," Williams said. "We have examined three people (Gayle, Breese and Wavell Hinds) ... we (Jamaica) have to look at the future too."
Breese took over the captaincy last season from Robert Samuels, who was not considered by the selectors. In seven matches in charge Breese led Jamaica to the Carib Beer semi-finals but was ruled out with a fractured forearm after being hit by a delivery from the Leewards' Adam Sanford in the final preliminary round game.
Gayle took over and captained Jamaica in the semi-finals and final of the tournament.
"From last year we had him (Gayle) captaining teams, so did Wavell four years ago and they were very successful; they showed the attitude of good captains," said Williams.
The other members of the Jamaica management team are Maurice Clarke (manager), Robert Haynes (coach) and David Bernard Senior (trainer).
Meanwhile, Donovan Pagon and Danza Hyatt were closing in on half centuries when rain brought a premature end to Jamaica's fifth practice match in preparation for next month's regional one-day tournament at Sabina Park.
When rain came minutes before noon, Pagon, 43, and Hyatt, 37, were leading a Gareth Breese's XI fightback at 126 for two off 29.1 overs against Carlton Baugh's XI.
The two added 83 runs for the third wicket after pacer Dwight Stewart had removed Xavier Marshall, 27, and Shawn Findlay, six, to have Breese's XI at 43 for two. Stewart took two for 27.
