JAMAICA’S 13-member cricket team yesterday departed for Guyana where they will face the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) at the Providence Stadium in the second phase of the West Indies Cricket Board’s 2010 four-day competition on Friday.

Jamaica will face Barbados in Trinidad on February 19 before rounding out the tournament against Trinidad and Tobago in Grenada on February 26.

The two- time defending champions are seeking another hold on the title, and despite being weakened by the absence of a number of senior players for various reasons, are strongly favoured to oblige.

They lead the standings with a maximum 36 points from three matches, while many-time winners Barbados are on 33 from four. Surprise package CCC are third on 24 points from four matches and Trinidad & Tobago 21 from four as well.

Coach Junior Bennett, while happy with the overall composition of the team, has again called on the more experienced players to step up.

“It’s a squad which gives us options, so with this composition, whatever combination is required, we can play that. We have these players the last three or so seasons, so the players that are here are the ones entrusted with the responsibility to get the job done… They have to go out there and lift their game a notch and play some good consistent cricket,” he said.

Left-arm spinner Nikita Miller and left-handed middle-order batsmen Brendan Nash and Wavell Hinds are on West Indies duty, while pacer Daren Powell has withdrawn from the team for this season for what was cited as “personal reasons” by selection chairman Nehemiah Perry.

This has opened the door for promising former West Indies Youth player Nkrumah Bonner to have a crack at making his debut over the next three rounds of matches, while all-rounders Andre Russell and Bevon Brown and fastbowler Jason Dawes have also been included in the 13.

Bennett says he is pleased with the performance of the team so far and insists consistency in both batting and bowling departments is key to a successful 2010 campaign.

“Over the first three games we batted consistently well in terms of team totals. In all the games, in the first innings we have scored over 300 runs. Over the years our bowlers have been able to get the wickets, so we’re hoping they can continue. What we want is good, all-round cricket,” he said.

Meanwhile, the tactician told the Observer that though Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are traditionally fierce rivals of Jamaica, he is focusing on his team’s strengths to overcome both challenges.

“There is no question about it that Barbados and Trinidad are formidable opponents at regional level, but we just have to take it match by match. Each game has it own challenges and we won’t focus on any one team. We have to go out there and play our own game,” Bennett stated.

Jamaica squad — Tamar Lambert (captain), Brenton Parchment, Danza Hyatt, Donovan Pagon, David Bernard Jr, Carlton Baugh Jr, Odean Brown, Andrew Richardson, Shawn Findlay, Andre Russell, Nkrumah Bonner, Bevon Brown and Jason Dawes.