Scorpions captain still upbeat despite opening round loss

THE JAMAICA Scorpions faced a setback in the opening round of the West Indies Championship after losing to the Windward Islands Volcanoes by nine wickets at Sabina Park. However, captain Jermaine Blackwood remains optimistic as they gear up to take on Combined Campuses and Colleges at the same venue starting tomorrow.

Reflecting on the loss, Blackwood emphasised the importance of maintaining a positive mindset within the team.

“As a batting unit, we want to think about how we want to play and just execute,” said Blackwood.

Despite the defeat, he believes in the resilience of his players and their ability to bounce back. Blackwood attributed the loss to bad decision-making rather than technical flaws, stating, “Decisionmaking and not technique cost us the first game and we have to learn quickly and move on.”

The right-handed Blackwood, who is known for his aggressive and positive approach to batting, remains unfazed about his form. Scores of 14 and 16 from the opening game are well below par for a Test batsman, but the Westmoreland-native expressed confidence i n his ability to score runs and highlighted the responsibility he carries as a leader.

“As a leader, I have to take responsibility, I am not going to put any pressure on myself because I know I can score runs, I just have to stay in the positive,” Blackwood asserted.

The skipper emphasised the need for accountability within the team as he acknowledged the experience of key batsmen Chadwick Walton and Nkrumah Bonner, stating that they have analysed their performances and identified areas for improvement. Blackwood had no doubt that they would rectify their mistakes in the upcoming game against Combined Campuses and Colleges.

Jamaica posted scores of 159 and 234 in their match against the Volcanoes, a performance that fell short of expectations. However, Blackwood remains optimistic about the team’s prospects in the tournament, believing that the players have the talent and determination to turn things around.

“We have positive players and it is only a matter of time,” Blackwood declared.

PHOTO BY LENNOX ALDRED Jamaica Scorpions captain Jermaine Blackwood (left) raises his head in disgust after missing out on scoring against Shamar Springer of the Windward Islands Volcanoes during their West Indies Championship opening round match at Sabina Park last week.