- File photos
From left, Lawson and Powell

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

The new Trelawny multi-purpose stadium, which is earmarked to host the opening ceremony for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, will get its first taste of international cricket today when Jamaica square-off against an Invitational XI from the United States in a 50-over-a-side limited overs match starting at 9:30 a.m.

During a tour of the unfinished complex on Thursday by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, Trelawny Cricket Association (TCA) president, Phillip Service, said the newly-laid wicket seems to be in extremely good condition and he is anticipating a very good game between Jamaica and the U.S. team.

"The wicket is well prepared and I expect it to play quite well," said Service, who is also a development officer with the West Indies Cricket Board. "This game is the first major test for this wicket and I am expecting that it will play just fine."

Earlier this week, the Jamaican selectors announced a strong 14-man squad, inclusive of West Indies senior team representatives Jermaine Lawson, Daren Powell and David Bernard.

The game is a joint project of Air Jamaica, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Super Clubs and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, and is being used to test certain aspects of their readiness for next year's world event.

National coach Junior Bennett said he expects the Jamaica players to treat the game quite seriously, especially the youngsters, as it will offer them an opportunity to show their worth ahead of the major regional tournaments early next year.

Young team

"Jamaica will be fielding a fairly young team so this is really an opportunity for these players to show their worth ahead of the upcoming tournaments," said Bennett. "It is also a chance for us to familiarise ourselves with this new facility, which might become an integral part of local cricket after the World Cup."

In addition to Lawson, Powell and Bernard, the Jamaica team, which will be led by Tamar Lambert, will also include Andrew Richardson, Nikita Miller, Lorenzo Ingram, Danza Hyatt, Damion Ebanks, Andre McCarthy, Shane Powell, Dennis Bulli and schoolboy Rasheed Outar.

The U.S. team, which is coached by former Jamaica and West Indies batting legend Lawrence Rowe, comprises a number of cricketers with Caribbean background, including six Jamaicans.

The team practised in Kingston yesterday and indications are that they will be treating the game seriously.

The U.S. team will feature the likes of Mark Johnson, Valentino Ventura, Carl Wright, Tony Powell, Glen Anglin, Renardo Francis, Steve Massish, Lennox Cush, Richard Louis, Carl Ifill, Irman Awan, Imran Sadick and Duane Nathaniel.