Robert Haynes, head coach of Jamaica Scorpions, says the batting unit must get its act collectively if the crew is to finish a two-game dropping skid within the regional first-class cricket competitors.
The Scorpions, who host title holders Guyana Harpy Eagles in a fourth-round contest at Sabina Park — scheduled to begin this morning — have hit a snag after bowling off the season with victory away to Windward Islands Volcanoes over a month in the past.
The Scorpions subsequently misplaced to Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Barbados Pleasure to slide to fifth within the league desk on 32.6 factors.
The thus far unbeaten Harpy Eagles lead with 57.6 factors, forward of second-placed Trinidad and Tobago Crimson Pressure (55.4), the third-placed Hurricanes (50.8), the fourth-placed Pleasure (50), the sixth-placed Volcanoes (16.8), seventh-placed positioned Mixed Campuses and Schools (15.2) and last-placed West Indies Academy (12.6).
Haynes instructed the Jamaica Observer that the “bowlers have been holding their very own” thus far, however emphasised that the batsmen need to step up.
“Within the two video games after [the opening win] I believe what principally allow us to down was the batting. I believe what was missing was a stage of focus by way of when the batters obtained to double figures… after which obtained themselves out,” he mentioned after the crew practised at Sabina Park on Tuesday. “We now have 4 video games to go and now we have to ensure we get it proper with the batting. The batting must be stronger by way of constructing partnerships.”
Haynes says the Scorpions will likely be set again by the absence of normal skipper and marquee top-order, left-hand batsman John Campbell, who’s nursing a groin pressure. However the crew welcomes the return of established West Indies white-ball top-order batsman Brandon King for doubtlessly his first outing of the season.
Artful pacer Marquino Mindley, who has begun the season with a few eye-catching bowling performances, is to captain the Scorpions in Campbell’s absence.
One other notable addition to the Scorpions squad is tearaway quick bowler Ojay Shields, who seemed menacing and incisive when representing Mixed Campuses and Schools beforehand this season. The grass-covered pitch earmarked for this conflict is anticipated to supply sideways motion for the pacers.
“It’s for us to play higher cricket than Guyana, to ensure we’re organised and we execute,” Haynes mentioned. “We nonetheless have excessive hopes of successful [the 2025 title] as a result of with 4 video games to go, if we win all these video games, something can occur.”
The primary-class season has been on a break since mid-February when the third spherical ended.
Guyana Harpy Eagles head coach Ryan Hercules appeared desirous to see the fourth spherical get underneath approach as he led the crew in coaching on the eve of the encounter.
“We all know we get good competitors after we get to Jamaica… there’s the model of cricket that they play and the model of cricket that we play,” he instructed the Observer.
“It’s an enormous recreation for us to begin this second [phase of the competition]. There are excessive expectations from the batting, bowling and fielding perspective. It is a younger bunch of males, [and] we gel very nicely off the sector… excessive power stage, very motivated and really desirous to be taught.”
The Harpy Eagles are captained by West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Tevin Imlach, who was tremendously assured behind the stumps because the regional aspect left Pakistan with a shock 1-1 Take a look at collection end in January.
Spinners Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair, who each performed very important roles for the regional crew in Pakistan, are additionally within the Harpy Eagles squad, together with the out-of-favour West Indies pair of batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul and spinner Veerasammy Permaul.
— Sanjay Myers
HAYNES… the batting must be stronger by way of constructing partnershipsPhoto: Naphtali Junior
