Lambert to prove worth

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

FORMER captain Tamar Lambert says he is disappointed at being dropped from Jamaica's team for next month's second staging of the lucrative Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament, as he believes he could have made a valuable contribution to the team's quest of winning its first regional title in the game's newest format.

According to Lambert - one of two senior players dropped from the squad that represented the country in the championships last year - while he may not be the fittest member of the team, he believes that as a batsman he still has what it takes, even in the Twenty20 format of the game.

"I think that I am an all-round player who can bat pace well and manoeuvre spinners into the gaps well and is a good enough spinner that can be used in tight situations, all of which are important in Twenty20 cricket," said Lambert, who along with Brenton Parchment, were the only changes from last year.

"However, at the end of the day it's up to the selectors and it if they feel that I am not good enough for Twenty20 cricket I have to accept their position. I will just have to go back and put in the work and show them what I am worth," he added.

Lambert, who prior to getting axed, was replaced as captain by Wavell Hinds, has been under the microscope ever since Jamaica's below par performance at the tournament last year, in which the team, despite being a favourite, finished fourth.

Power players

Back then, it was felt by many that one of the main reasons behind Jamaica's poor showing was their lack of enough power players, which in Twenty20 cricket is paramount when either setting or chasing totals.

Lambert, 29, who has a weight problem, which many feel hampers him to produce effectively, especially in Twenty20 cricket, was one such player who was singled out along with the 34-year-old Hindsand the returning Marlon Samuels, who at the time was struggling to find form.

With this in mind, and with Hinds being appointed captain and Samuels performing well in the trial matches, it was a general feeling that Lambert, who averaged a meagre 4.66 in eight Twenty20 matches, including a highest score of 11, would have been hard-pressed to keep his spot.

However, despite all the developments, Lambert said he was still optimistic, albeit the decision to axe him did not come as a surprise.

"I wouldn't say that I was surprised, but I am disappointed," noted Lambert.

"I have a batting average of 4.66, which does not go well for me. But if I might say, this is a result of me making sacrifices for the team at times and batting down the order. Sometimes I bat at seven or eight, where I only get to face two or six deliveries.

"Also, I wouldn't say I have a very serious fitness problem, as I have been playing cricket over the years and have done fairly well. I have also seen from time to time people with sizes close to mine doing fairly well at the international level.

"But having said that, I am one who is always up for a challenge and it is my intention to work on fitness, among other things, that I can get another chance.

"I was left out of the 50 overs two seasons ago and came back last season and I would like to do a similar thing in Twenty20," he added.

This season's tournament will be held in Babardos and Antigua between January 10 and 23.