KINGSTON, Jamaica – Former West Indies Under-19 batsman Brad Barnes and little known left-arm pacer Shalom Parnell were named in the Jamaica Scorpions squad to defend the West Indies Super50 Cup, starting on October 17 in Trinidad.
Barnes, 25, a former Jamaica Under-19 captain, made his List A debut for West Indies “B” in the 2018 Super50 Cup, but this is the first time he will be playing for the Scorpions in this tournament.
He displayed good form with the bat – stroking a hundred and a pair of half-centuries – and bowled a number of tidy spells during a series of practice matches leading up to the selection of the 14-member squad.
“I am so happy to be in the squad because I have put in a lot of work over the last couple of months by batting more balls and working on the mental side of my game,” he told the Jamaica Gleaner.
“I have always been a batting all-rounder, but the opportunity wasn’t given to me to bowl much. If I get a chance to play in this tournament, I want to do well and showcase my best to the region and the world.”
Parnell celebrated his selection with a tidy all-round performance for Melbourne in the final of the all-island 50 overs-a-side tournament, but Jamaica Defence Force successfully defended the title with a five-run win on Saturday at Sabina Park.
The Scorpions squad includes 10 players that enabled them to win the title last year, including West Indies Twenty20 International captain Rovman Powell, who will again lead the side, with West Indies white-ball batsman Brandon King named his deputy.
The squad has been boosted by the return of West Indies T20I all-rounder Fabian Allen, while West Indies Test opener Kirk McKenzie will also play for the side for the first time after making his List A debut for the West Indies Cricket Academy last season.
Scorpions beat Trinidad & Tobago Red Force by three wickets in the final to win the Super50 Cup last November at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.
The Jamaican franchise open this year’s tournament against Leeward Islands Hurricanes in a day-night contest, starting at 1 p.m. on the second match day on October 18 at the Brian Lara Cricket Ground.
Squad:
Rovman Powell (captain), Brandon King (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Brad Barnes, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Dennis Bulli, Sheldon Cottrell, Nicholson Gordon, Kirk McKenzie Jr, Shalom Parnell, Jeavor Royal, Odean Smith, Chadwick Walton.
