The Jamaica Cricket Board of Control (JCBC) was expected to name the squad yesterday but according to Chester Watson, chairman of the selection committee, the board needs to make another observation of players because Friday's first day of the four-day trial was abandoned because of rain.
Jamaica will host Barbados in the opening round of the President's Cup on Friday. According to Watson, ``we have to get the players accustomed to three or four-day games as they have not been playing many and the competition is a four-day encounter.''
Two spectators were stand-in umpires yesterday as regular umpires were attending their annual general meeting. Watson said he was informed about the meeting. The umpires will resume today.
Meanwhile half centuries from Andre Coley and Tamar Lambert enabled Nehemiah Perry's XI to gain a slim lead over Courtney Walsh's XI at close.
Scores: Walsh's XI 187 all out, Perry's XI 193 for seven. Both Coley 75 not out and Lambert 55, featured in a 104-run fifth-wicket partnership after Perry's XI were reeling at 17 for four wickets. Walsh's XI, overnight 154 for five, added only 33 further runs for the loss of their remaining five wickets. Carl Wright made 27. Franklyn Rose took three for 43 off 15 overs, Oneil Richards three for 21 off 9.4 overs, Patrick Patterson two for 15 off 10 overs and Kirk Powell two for 35 off 10 overs.
Perry's XI had a disastrous start with Delroy Taylor first to go for three with the score on 10, followed by Kerron Baker who made eight, Perry for one and Brian Murphy for two.
The recovery was then left to Lambert and Coley. Lambert did most of the scoring playing some handsome drives but the heavy outfield prevented many well- time strokes from reaching the boundary.
Lambert's innings ended when he was bowled by Mario Ventura for a fine 55 which included five fours and a six. He batted for 209 minutes and faced 137 balls.
Carlton Baugh Jr. did not last long as he went cheaply for one before Rose came out and made a quick-fire 25 in 19 minutes off 14 balls with three sixes and a four. All sixes came off Ventura. Coley's 75 not out contained eight fours made in 245 minutes and faced 163 balls. Powell is the other not out batsman on 17. Walsh took two for 33 in 14 overs, while Domville McKenize, Julian Royal, Ventura and Paul Tomlinson took one wcket each