Nkrumah Bonner, Jamie Merchant and Oraine Williams have been recalled to the Jamaica Scorpions squad for their second-round CWI 4-Day PCL match against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Sabina Park starting on Thursday.
They were brought in as replacements for Rovman Powell, who is on international duties for the West Indies and injuries to Dennis Bulli and Alwyn Williams.
The match will be a battle of familiar foes as Jamaican coaches lead both teams.
Andre Coley is the current Scorpions head coach fresh from his multi-season contract with the Volcanoes. Meanwhile, Andrew Richardson, who was the assistant coach/manager of the Scorpions last season, now coaches the Volcanoes.
“I don’t think too much about the history I have with the Volcanoes or the history Richardson has with the Scorpions. We’ve got cricket to play and that requires focusing squarely on the tactics and strategies which can make Jamaica as fiercely competitive as possible,” said Coley.
“Both our teams have good mixes of youth and experience as well as a strong desire to win every time we take the field, so it’s quite finely poised.”
The Scorpions earned a draw against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in the season opener and Coley believes the team has learned from that game.
“Our batting has the resilience to return from setbacks. After being in the field for 150 overs, it took quite some focus and dedication to respond after being asked to follow-on. Saving that game reinforced our confidence. Consistently positive application of our technical abilities and execution of the game will make us give a good account of ourselves,” Coley said.
Meanwhile, Richardson noted that there are no emotions to consider on the field, just business. “We’re all participants in this business of sport. There are many friendships between the teams but once we’re out on the pitch that is put aside,” he said.
The Volcanoes defeated the Barbados Pride by three wickets in their opening match which places them in second with 16.6 points on the table. The win has boosted the team’s confidence.
“Self-belief is probably the biggest take away from that victory. We approached that game as if we were under-dogs so we fought for every run and wicket. We know that we can do it, so the confidence of the team is up,” said Richardson. “Our bowling and batting line-ups departments are strong but we play team cricket so everyone will chip in. We will play our game.”
In other second-round fixtures, fifth-place Barbados Pride hosts the table-topping Guyana Jaguars and its sixth-place against third as the Leeward Islands Hurricanes visit the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force .