KINGSTON, Jamaica — Rejuvenated pacer Jerome Taylor has been added to the Jamaica Scorpions squad for this weekend’s resumption of the Professional Cricket League four-day competition.

The Scorpions are slated to battle title-holders Guyana Jaguars at Sabina Park, starting Friday.

Taylor, 32, who announced his retirement from Test cricket last year, took 16 wickets in eight matches as the Scorpions ended losing finalists to Barbados Pride in the recent Regional Super50 tournament.

The Nikita Miller-captained squad, which is coached by Robert Samuels, also includes batsman Brandon King and fast bowler Reynard Leveridge, who have both recovered from respective hamstring and groin injuries suffered in the Super50 competition.

Openers John Campbell and Shacaya Thomas, West Indies Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood, Andre McCarthy and former Scorpions skipper Paul Palmer are the other specialist batsmen included. Devon Thomas and Chadwick Walton are two very capable batsmen who can keep wicket.

Leg break bowler Damion Jacobs is expected to partner with left-arm finger spinner Miller in the bowling attack. Medium pacer Derval Green also finds a spot in the 13-member squad. Exciting all-rounder Rovman Powell is not included owing to his involvement with the West Indies squad versus visitors England in the One-Day International series.

“It’s a fairly balanced squad and gives the skipper options in terms of different combinations for the match. Once we execute we should be very competitive in the game,” Junior Bennett, the selection chairman for the Jamaica franchise, told OBSERVER ONLINE.

Esuan Crandon-coached Guyana Jaguars, with West Indies Test batsman Leon Johnson as skipper, landed on Tuesday. They also have a squad featuring some of the best players in the region, including evergreen left-hand batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

“We have a fairly decent squad with the experienced Shiv Chanderpaul in the middle. We have exciting players like Shimron Hetmyer, the former West Indies Under-19 captain, and young Tagenarine Chanderpaul,” said the Jaguars’ manager Rayon Griffith.

“We have batsmen Johnson, Vishaul Singh, and all-rounder Raymon Reifer, and good bowlers so the squad is a good make-up. Jamaica are also a good team, and I think whoever comes out and makes less mistakes and are more determined, will win,” added Griffith, who doubles as assistant coach.

Both teams trained on Wednesday and are scheduled for additional practice tomorrow. The Scorpions, who lost by 181 runs to the Jaguars in Providence in the opening round of the season, lead the points table with 67.6 points from five games. The Jaguars are second with 64.6 points, ahead of third-placed Barbados Pride (47.2). Windward Islands Volcanoes (41.6), Leeward Islands Hurricanes (39.4 overs) and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force (35.6) bring up the trailing pack.

Squads:

Scorpions- Nikita Miller (capt), John Campbell, Shacaya Thomas, Jermaine Blackwood, Andre McCarthy, Brandon King, Devon Thomas, Chadwick Walton, Damion Jacobs, Jerome Taylor, Leveridge, Paul Palmer, Derval Green

Jaguars- Leon Johnson (capt), Vishaul Singh (vice-capt), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivnarine Chaderpaul, Raymon Reifer, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Keon Joseph, Keemo Paul, Rajendra Chandrika

Sanjay Myers