Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
National senior team coach Robert Haynes discusses tactics with fast bowler Kamal Dennis during Jamaica's practice session at Melbourne Oval yesterday. - PHOTO BY ANTHONY FOSTER
THE FIRST practice match to help select Jamaica's team for next month's President's Cup, the region's premier one-day tournament, bowls off at Kensington Oval this morning at 9:30.
As expected, Wavell Hinds and Tamar Lambert, who recently returned from league cricket in England, are the opposing captains.
Due to the unavailability of the overseas players, the selectors, headed by Ruddy Williams, have called on three more Under-19 players in captain Jamie Trenchfield, Andre McCarthy and Zaniffe Fowler.
INVITEES
Batsman Maurice Clarke, fast bowler Sheldon Smith and spinners Gavin Wallace and Steve Logan have also been invited to play in today's first of two practice matches set within four days.
They will join regular squad members Hinds, Lambert, Andrew Richardson, Xavier Marshall, Daren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Marlon Samuels, Dwight Washington, Andre Dwyer, Alton Beckford, Tyson Gordon, Kamal Dennis, Bevon Brown, Odean Brown, Gary Graham, Donovan Sinclair and Carlton Baugh Jnr.
Fast bowlers Jermaine Lawson and Jerome Taylor are uncertain for the game. Lawson has a niggling ankle injury while Taylor is down with the flu.
Taylor and Lawson, along with West Indies caps Marlon Samuels, Hinds, Powell, Washington, Baugh and Marshall participated in a physical session with West Indies trainer Bryce Cavanagh at Melbourne Oval yesterday.
Andre Coley, who is assisting head coach Robert Haynes at the camp, told The Gleaner that the players were in good condition for today's game.
HIGH-QUALITY MATCH
"The majority of them have just stopped or are still playing in the local competitions and some have just come back from England," Coley said.
"I expect the game to be of a very high standard," he said.
Coley also made it clear that local physical trainer David Bernard Snr had been doing a "wonderful job" with the team.
Bernard told The Gleaner that in recent times players were turning up to practice more fit and that made things easier.
"The majority of the players are in good condition ... they completed the test (fitness) and it indicated that they are in good physical condition. We just need to do some sharpening work," Bernard said.
