Walton, Mindley to bolster Scorpions
WEST INDIES one-day wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton, and out-of-favour West Indies fast bowler, Marquino Mindley, could make their seasonal debuts for the Jamaica Scorpions when the home team faces the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Sabina Park today.
The encounter, one of three matches in the ninth and penultimate round of the Cricket West Indies-Digicel Four-day Championship, will get under way at 10 a.m.
The duo were named in the Scorpions 13-man squad, which has seen two changes to that which went down by two wickets to champions Guyana Jaguars at the same venue last weekend.
Walton is set to make a return after recently returning from participation in the Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20, and representing the West Indies in their recent tour of New Zealand.
Mindley, in the meantime, who was a frequent member of the team before this season, makes a return to the after being dropped due to poor form.
Mindley replaces fellow fast bowler Reynard Leveridge, while Walton will take over the gloves from young wicketkeeper Aldaine Thomas.
“Walton and Mindley has been included, and we hope that their presence will improve our performance,” expressed Jamaica captain, Nikita Miller. “We are now out of the running for the title, but it would be good for us to finish in second place, and that is what we will be aiming for.” The Scorpions, who are coming off back-to-back defeats, including a loss away to the Windward Islands Volcanoes, will enter the showdown trailing the Leewards in the points standings. Jamaica are currently in fifth position on 75.8 points, while the Leewards are in third on 79.4 points. Guyana lead with an unassailable 135 points with Barbados Pride second on 85.8. Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 76.8 are fourth with the Volcanoes rounding off the standings on 61.3. JAMAICA SCORPIONS (from) – Nikita Miller (captain), Fabian Allen, Jermaine Blackwood, John Campbell, Assad Fudadin, Derval Green, Damion Jacobs, Brandon King, Christopher Lamont, Andre McCarthy, Marquino Mindley, Paul Palmer, Chadwick Walton LEEWARDS HURRICANES (from) – Kieran Powell (captain), Sheeno Berridge, Rashidi Boucher, Shane Burton, Jason Campbell, Keacy Carty, Jahmar Hamilton, Rahkeem Cornwall, Montcin Hodge, Jeremiah Louis, Mervyn Matthew, Akeem Saunders, Devon Thomas