JAMAICA Franchise and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force will lock horns in the Professional Cricket League, starting today at Sabina Park in what could be a fascinating contest between the two struggling former regional champions.

Play in the four-day encounter is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am.

The Jamaicans, just two rounds ago were trailing leaders Guyana Jaguars by only seven points, but losses to the Jaguars in Kingston and then to Windward Islands Volcanoes in St Vincent have left them in fourth spot in the six-team points standings with 57.

Junior Bennett, Jamaica’s head coach, has been severely let down by the top-order batsmen. Their poor form has usually left the middle- and lower-order batting with plenty to do, and the team has failed to reach 250 runs in an innings this season.

Upon the team’s return to the island on Wednesday, Bennett told the Jamaica Observer that they are desperate to bounce back from the consecutive defeats.

“We definitely have to bounce back in that game there, but our batting has to improve. There is absolutely no way we can continue to bat like this and expect to get good results,” said the Jamaican coach.

Trinidad & Tobago’s campaign so far has been even worse, with them going down four times in their six matches. They are fifth with 30 points.

Roland Sampath, Trinidad & Tobago manager, expressed hope that their fortunes could change against their major rivals.

“Yes, we are struggling in the tournament. We are coming off losses against the Windwards and then against Barbados (Pride), and we are looking for a better result against Jamaica,” he told the Observer yesterday.

Jamaica have made two changes to the squad which travelled to St Vincent last week.

Veteran wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh, who has endured a torrid time with the bat of late, and struggling opening batsman Nkrumah Bonner have been omitted to make room for wrist-spinning all-rounder Cassius Burton and opener Shacaya Thomas.

Horace Miller, known more for his batting, is expected to take the wicketkeeping gloves for Jamaica.

For Trinidad & Tobago, batsman Jeremy Solozano misses out due to injury and is replaced by all-rounder Rayad Emrit.

In other matches starting today, front-runners Guyana (92 points) face second-placed hosts Barbados (77 points) in Bridgetown, and third-placed Windward Islands (64 points) clash with last-placed neighbours Leeward Islands Hurricanes (14 points) in St Lucia.

Squads:

Jamaica — Tamar Lambert, John Campbell, Brandon King, Jermaine Blackwood, Dave Bernard, Horace Miller, Jason Dawes, Damion Jacobs, Marquino Mindley, Odean Brown, Cassius Burton, Shacaya Thomas, Gavon Brown.

Trinidad & Tobago — Rayad Emrit, Jason Mohammed, Yannic Cariah, Derone Davis, Shannon Gabriel, Akeal Hosein, Steven Katwaroo, Imran Khan, Evin Lewis, Kjorn Ottley, Yannick Ottley, Marlon Richards, Daniel St Clair.