Lambert is back

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Middle-order batsman Tamar Lambert is set to lead Jamaica again during the upcoming 2011 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day tournament.

The 29-year-old, who early last season led Jamaica to a third consecutive hold on the title but was later in the year replaced by Wavell Hinds as Twenty20 captain, will lead the team after he was nominated by the national selection committee, and his nomination ratified by the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA).

"The recommendation was made by the selection committee for Lambert to be retained, and it was later ratified by the board," said a JCA official, who requested anonymity.

"He is a proven leader with a successful track record, and with the team looking to continue its dominance of regional four-day cricket, it was the feeling among the selectors and the technical director that he is still the best man for the job."

Jamaica, who will be without three leading players, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller and Carlton Baugh Jr, along with rising fast bowler André Russell, will open their campaign against Guyana next weekend at Alpart Oval in St Elizabeth.

Gayle, Miller, Baugh Jr and Russell are currently with the West Indies team. They are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka shortly in preparation for next month's ICC World Cup, which will be held jointly by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the third and final practice match to help select Jamaica's team for their first match gets under way today at Kensington Park and, according to coach Gus Logie, he is looking forward to the encounter.

"We are looking forward to continued performances from the players who have been showing good form in the trial matches thus far," he said.

"Some of these players include Nash and Pagon, who have both scored centuries. Spinners Dennis Bulli and Akeem Dewar, and batsmen Simon Jackson and Jermaine Blackwood have looked good throughout the Twenty20 trial and practice matches.

"It will also be a good opportunity for the players returning from the Carib T20 tournament to readjust themselves to the demands of four-day cricket, as it is our intention to successfully defend our crown," he added.