Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Beckford ... the newcomer - CONTRIBUTED
ST. ELIZABETH'S leg-spinner Alton Beckford was the only uncapped player named in the Wavell Hinds-led Jamaica 14-man squad for the upcoming regional President's Cup One-Day cricket competition.
There was no such luck for his more established parishioner, Jerome Taylor, who has already represented the West Indies.
Taylor will leave the island on Friday for the West Indies training camp in Barbados, in preparation for the Australia tour later this year.
Chairman of selectors Ruddy Williams said his panel was advised by the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) not to select Taylor.
He said the instruction was given to grant the pacer time "to finish a programme set up for him by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)."
Meanwhile, Beckford, 18, who was named in the West Indies Under-19 squad to prepare for the youth World Cup next year, is overwhelmed with his selection.
"I am feeling pretty happy, because I have been working all my life for this ... and now I am in the senior team. I am very proud at this time."
Nine players who represented the West Indies at Test and One-Day level are included in the squad. They are captain Hinds, Chris Gayle, Xavier Marshall, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh, David Bernard Jr., Gareth Breese, Darren Powell, and Dwight Washington.
Tamar Lambert, Nikita Miller, Andrew Richardson, Danza Hyatt and Beckford complete the squad.
"I think it's a very well put together squad, very balanced team with a lot of experience in Chris Gayle, Gareth Breese, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh, and the inclusion of young Beckford who was outstanding in our trail games," Hinds said.
The squad was named after yesterday's final practice match at Melbourne Oval.
Baugh's even century was the highlight of Tamar Lambert XI 244 all out in 43.1 overs. Baugh, who hit six sixes and five fours, shared in a 101-run fifth-wicket stand with Bevon Brown 53 (4x4, 4x6). Beckford took 2-62.
In reply, Gray Graham, 33, Keith Hibbert, 34, and Brenton Parchment, 22, made most runs in Hinds XI's 166-7 off 39.3 when the game was called off. Taylor 2-29, Bevon Brown 2-21 and Andre Dwyer 2-13 took most wickets.
