Jamaica discipline teenage Marshall

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Three key players have been included in a 14-man Jamaica squad while young, exciting West Indies opener Xavier Marshall has been left out because of disciplinary reasons for their Carib Beer Series ninth round encounter against Barbados starting at Chedwin Park today. West Indies opener Chris Gayle and former captain Gareth Breese look set to play their first matches of the Carib Beer Series while Marlon Samuels is poised to suit up for only his second match of the tournament.

However, a release from the Jamaica Cricket Association on Thursday indicated that the 18-year-old Marshall, who toured Australia earlier this year on his maiden West Indies senior team tour, was not considered for selection. “Reports from the team manager of the recent behaviour of Xavier Marshall which has been considered inimical to the performance of the team, has resulted in his omission from the match versus Barbados,” the release stated. It also noted that Jackie Hendriks, president of the Jamaica Cricket Association, was in full agreement with the action taken. However, the return of Gayle, Samuels and Breese will be a fillip for Jamaica who lost their first match of the Carib Beer Series in the last round against Trinidad and Tobago by 70 runs.

Gayle, a pugnacious left-hander, has not played competitive cricket since his return from the VB Triangular Series in Australia in early February because of a strained right shoulder. Barbados meanwhile, has been buoyed by the return of fast bowler Tino Best who is yet to play a match in the Carib Beer Series after returning from the West Indies tour of England last year injured. The fiery, 23-year-old fast bowler has in the past found Jamaica to be a happy hunting ground and will hope this success continues, as Barbados tries to improve on the bottom placing in the standings.

Teams: JAMAICA: Wavell Hinds (capt), Chris Gayle, Donovan Pagon, Marlon Samuels, Tamar Lambert, David Bernard Jr, Carlton Baugh Jr, Gareth Breese, Daren Powell, Odean Brown, Jerome Taylor, Danza Hyatt, Nikita Miller, Dwight Washington.
BARBADOS: Courtney Browne (capt), Sherwin Campbell, Dwayne Smith, Kenroy Williams, Martin Nurse, Dale Richards, Jason Parris, Ryan Hinds, Patrick Browne, Ian Bradshaw, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Tino Best.
Umpires: Norman Malcolm & Arnold Christopher.