Three newcomers have been drafted in Jamaica’s 13-man squad for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day regional tournament match against Guyana at the Alpart Sports Club, in St Elizabeth on Friday.

Opener Simon Jackson, wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton and left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cotterell are first-time entrants in the Jamaican four-day set up, while omitted are the top order batting trio of Xavier Marshall, Brenton Parchment and Donovan Pagon.

Cotterell was an obvious choice for many following impressive showings for the Jamaica Defence Force on the local club circuit and consistent performances during previous trial stints.

He then realised that potential with an outstanding spell of two for 17 on debut in the recent Caribbean Twenty20 (CT20) championships.

Walton, who attended Munro College, had represented the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) for four seasons, and was selected ahead of Horace Miller, who of late, has lacked consistency with the bat.

Jackson’s 135 in the first of three trial matches, coupled with a solid technique and his ability to bat for long periods has pushed the selectors to include him ahead of the more seasoned Parchment and Marshall.

The 25-year-old left-hander, who ironically made his first-class debut for the CCC against Jamaica back in 2008, said he is very pleased to be chosen in the senior Jamaican squad, that has won the last three four-day tournaments.

“I’ve been doing a lot of fitness and technical work and I’m very pleased to have been selected, though I’m not really surprised. This is a very successful team but I know I have to just go out there and express myself if given the opportunity,” said the former Ardenne High student.

Though an unfortunate exclusion, the in-form Pagon was unlikely to secure a place in a middle-order line-up that features the talents of Wavell Hinds, Brendan Nash, Marlon Samuels, Tamar Lambert and David Bernard Jr.

The two specialist slow bowlers are Odean Brown and his namesake, Bevon, while fastbowlers Jerome Taylor and Andrew Richardson, along with right-hand batsman Danza Hyatt round out the squad.

Lambert, who will attempt to captain the team to its fourth consecutive four-day title, conceded that it was hard to leave out the batting trio but said he is happy with the squad chosen.

“It was a difficult team to select and leave out those players… but at the end of the day the selectors could only name 13 players. It’s a fairly balanced team and with how the Alpart wicket plays it may help fastbowlers and also spinners so at the end of the day we have a good all-round team,” he said.

Noticeable absentees are former West Indies captain Chris Gayle, spinner Nikita Miller, wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jr and pacer Andre Russell. All four are part of the West Indies team currently touring Sri Lanka.

Jamaica squad — Tamar Lambert (capt), Simon Jackson, Danza Hyatt, Brendan Nash, Marlon Samuels, Wavell Hinds, David Bernard Jr, Chadwick Walton, Jerome Taylor, Odean Brown, Bevon Brown, Andrew Richardson, Sheldon Cotterell.