Marshall, Parchment, Pagon left out of Jamaica squad

 Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

SENIOR and established players Xavier Marshall, Brenton Parchment and Donovan Pagon, who have all represented the West Indies, were yesterday left out of the 13-man squad ahead of the team's opening 2011 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-day Championship fixture against Guyana this weekend at Alpart Sports Club, St Elizabeth.

Marshall scored an even 100 on the final day of yesterday's trial match, but not even that could secure the attacking batsman a spot in the squad.

Parchment had scored a century during Jamaica's final and deciding game last season.

The trio, who have played integral roles in Jamaica's successful title pursuits over the last three seasons, could instead watch opener Simon Jackson make his debut, as the 25-year-old and former Jamaica youth captain was among three newcomers named in the squad.

Over the last three seasons, Jackson has played with the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team.

The other first-timers to the Jamaica senior team are 25-year-old wicketkeeper, Chadwick Walton, who has also been a member of the CCC team; and 21-year-old left-arm seamer, Sheldon Cotterell.

The team is completed by Captain Tamar Lambert, Brendan Nash, Marlon Samuels, Wavell Hinds, Danza Hyatt, David Bernard Jr., Bevon Brown, Odean Brown, Andrew Richardson and Jerome Taylor.

"It was a difficult squad to pick as a lot of players pushed out their heads for selection," said chairman of selectors, Ruddy Williams.

"But having said that we believe it is the best team we could have selected at the moment and we look forward to them giving us a positive start as we seek to defend our titles," he added.

The other members of the selection panel are Head Coach Gus Logie, Ephraim McLeod, Lambert and Technical Director Jimmy Adams.

The squad will resume training tomorrow.

Unavailable

In addition to Parchment, Pagon and Marshall, several other senior players are unavailable due to West Indies duties. They are opener Chris Gayle, wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr., young pacer Andre Russell and spinner Nikita Miller, who are currently in Sri Lanka playing in the one-day international (ODI) series.

Jackson, who has an average of 27.25 in 17 first-class matches, is happy to have finally got an opportunity to represent the country.

"It has always been my dream, ever since youth cricket days, to represent the senior team. It was just for the right time and that time is now," said Jackson.

Walton, in the meanwhile, who represented the West Indies in two Tests and two ODI's against touring Bangladesh in 2009, said the experience he garnered with the CCC will help the team in its ambitions.

"I have been playing first-class cricket for the past three years and I hope the experience will make it less pressuring for me and help me to make a valuable contribution to the team," said Walton, who has an average of 23.67 in 30 first-class appearances.

Meanwhile, yesterday's final day of the third and final trial match to select the team, which was played at Kensington Park, saw Lambert XI and David Bernard Jr XI playing to a draw.

Resuming on 67 for two in their second innings, Bernard Jr XI were dismissed for 196, with Lambert taking five for 34. Marshall scored an even 100.

Lambert XI, in their reply, set 159 to win reached 35 without loss when stumps were drawn with Jackson, who scored 135 in the first trial match, ending on 17 not out.