Junior Bennett, chairman of selectors for Jamaica Scorpions, expressed satisfaction at having the services of pacer Jerome Taylor for this weekend’s four-day clash versus title-holders Guyana Jaguars at Sabina Park.

The game is slated to start today at 10:00 am.

The 32-year-old Taylor, who announced his retirement from Test cricket last year, took 16 wickets in eight matches as the Scorpions lost to Barbados Pride in the final of the Regional Super50 tournament last month.

Junior said Taylor’s fitness was not convincing enough for him to be selected for the first half of the four-day 2016-17 season, which ran from November to mid-December.

“He has been training with the squad from the start of preparation. We did not believe he was where we wanted him to be,” Bennett told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday.

“But he had a decent one-day tournament and worked well with [fast bowling teammate Reynard] Leveridge there. He has retired from Test cricket, yes, but he wants to represent the Scorpions in four-day cricket,” the selection chairman added.

The squad, which is coached by Robert Samuels, also includes batsman Brandon King, who has recovered from respective hamstring injury sustained early in the Super50 competition.

Leveridge, who has impressed many throughout the region with sheer pace and menace, was initially included, but was withdrawn at the 13th hour due to what captain Nikita Miller described as a niggle. Pacer Marquino Mindley is the replacement for Leveridge.

Openers John Campbell and Shacaya Thomas, West Indies Test batsman Jermaine Blackwood, Andre McCarthy and former Scorpions captain Paul Palmer are the other specialist batsmen included. Devon Thomas and Chadwick Walton are the two wicketkeeper/batsmen in the set-up.

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

— Sanjay Myers