Returning Lewis joins familiar faces in Scorpions squad
FORMER WEST Indies under19 captain Ramaal Lewis will make a return to the Jamaica Scorpions squad for the start of the 2024 West Indies Championship, which bowls off next Wednesday at Sabina Park against the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
The 27-year-old off-spinning all-rounder, who made his debut for Jamaica back in 2015, was named among 13 players for the opening round fixture which also saw a return of off-spinning all-rounder Peat Salmon who missed out on last year’s squad.
The Andrew Richardson-coached unit also i ncludes many familiar f aces i n the likes of Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Derval Green, Marquino Mindley and 38-yearold wicketkeeper-batsman Chadwick Walton.
The rest of the squad reads: Carlos Brown, Kirk McKenzie, Abhijai Mansingh, Romaine Morris, Gordon Bryan and Jeavor Royal.
The Scorpions will be hoping that home-field advantage will change their luck this season, as all of their home games will be played at Sabina Park.
The team finished in last place in 2023 without a win in five outings, and coach Richardson highlighted that this year’s unit should give a good account of themselves based on the make-up of the squad.
“We think we have an experienced and balanced squad, especially in our middle-order batting and seam department,” said Richardson.
The former Windward Islands coach says things have been looking up since the team started preparations for the longer version of the game, and players have looked the part in the recent trial games which was used to select the team.
“Preparation has been good and the batters were fairly consistent and our spinners were outstanding. Mentally and physically, the players are looking positive and are ready to go,” added Richardson.
The 2024 West Indies Championship will see seven rounds of matches with the opening three rounds being played from February 7 to 24.
In the first block of games, matches will take place in two host countries, St Kitts and Nevis at two venues, Warner Park and the Conaree Cricket Centre, and in Jamaica, at three venues, Sabina Park, Kensington Cricket Club, and Chedwin Park.
The second block of matches resumes on March 13, with the fourth and fifth rounds scheduled to be held in Trinidad and Tobago at the Queen’s Park Oval, the Diego Martin Sports Complex and the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground at UWI and in Antigua and Barbuda at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
The tournament will then restart after Easter with the final two rounds from April 10 to 20 with matches in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.