Orville Higgins | The Jamaica Scorpions need to find their sting

After three rounds of matches in the Regional Four-Day Championship, the Jamaica Scorpions are currently dead last.

The Guyana Jaguars, who have dominated this competition for half a decade, currently lead with 44.6 points, while the Scorpions are hovering at the bottom with 21.2 points. The Scorpions have struggled badly to make a real impact on this competition in the last few years, and by the look of things, this season could well be another hugely disappointing one.

We need not overcomplicate the analysis as to why we are doing so poorly this season. Simply put, the batting is ordinary, while the bowling, especially in the spin department, has been mediocre.

Paul Palmer Jr has been very good, having scored 262 runs at an average of 87.3. Nkrumah Bonner is also doing well, averaging 75, having scored 150 so far. Outside of these two, the rest of the batting is merely sputtering along.

Jermaine Blackwood is averaging 28, John Campbell 33, Rovman Powell 24, Brandon King 11, while Dennis Smith the wicketkeeper is averaging 30.5. Oraine Williams, who is the latest opener to be tried, scored just 6 runs in his two innings. Derval Green is averaging a credible 29.8 when you take into account that he is arguably the team’s most reliable fast bowler.

André Coley is in the early stages of his coaching tenure, but he must be having sleepless nights wondering how to get these batsmen to score real runs.

The bowling isn’t going all that great either.

Nicholson Gordon is the team’s leading wicket-taker despite surprisingly being left out of the first game. He has taken 10 wickets at an impressive 13.5 runs per wicket. The other fast bowlers, Green and Markino Mindley, have taken nine and eight wickets, respectively, but at 29 and 30 runs apiece, they are not getting wickets cheaply enough to put teams under any real pressure.

DISAPPOINTING SPIN BOWLING

What is most disappointing so far is the spin bowling department. When Jamaica was at its most marauding, Nikita Miller and Odean Brown used to run riot against regional batsmen. Both are now off the radar.

We may have to dust them off and bring them back, even if we have to provide rocking chairs for them between overs!

Patrick Harty has been the main man chosen to lead the slow bowling department, with Akim Frazer and Dennis Bulli injured. He has taken seven wickets but they have come at 42.8 apiece!

Off-spinner Jamie Merchant struggled to make an impact in the one game he has played.

The Scorpions leave for Guyana on Monday to play the leaders and defending champions next weekend. It is hard to envisage them turning their fortunes around.

We may still be last after the fourth round as well. In recent times, we have changed coaches, we have changed captains, we have tried several players, but the results continue to be ordinary.

Where the Scorpions are concerned, it definitely appears that the more things change, the more they remain the same.

Orville Higgins is a noted radio personality and commentator.