Jamaica Scorpions Captain Nikita Miller did not hide his disappointment after he failed to recover in time for the third-round regional four-day game against Barbados Pride at Sabina Park.

Up to press time, the Scorpions were 77 without loss on yesterday’s rain-truncated opening day of the day/night encounter.

“I was really looking forward to playing this game, but unfortunately I didn’t feel as if I would have been able to complete a game,” Miller, 35, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

The slow left-arm orthodox bowler also missed the opening two games of the season — both away to Guyana Jaguars and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force — after undergoing a haemorrhoid operation in September.

“I did some practice with the team this week when they came back from Trinidad, and I assessed it and I think that probably another week would put me right there to be able to complete a game. I’m thinking that the next game that Jamaica plays, I will be available to play, so I’m looking forward to that. Hopefully nothing changes for that, and it is looking positive in that regard,” he added.

In Miller’s absence, the largely inexperienced squad has been led by 25-year-old Paul Palmer.

They lost the first game of the season to the dominant title holders Jaguars, but held on for a draw against the Red Force.

Miller was encouraged by some of the performances.

All-rounder Fabian Allen, who misses this game due to a suspected calf strain, top-scored 169 not out, and top-order batsman Brandon King struck 98 in the first innings of the drawn contest. Left-hander Palmer made 52 in the second innings, while medium pacer Derval Green took five wickets in the match.

“The team is very inexperienced and I looked at some of our batting and bowling in the last game we played against Trinidad. I must say the way King played was commendable because of the way he batted and the patience he showed. For batsman of his type of play, he is an aggressive player — and he changed his game to suit the situation of the game and it was really good to see,” said the veteran spin bowler.

“Young Allen is also an aggressive player, and the fact that he hit 169 not out and he didn’t hit a six because he was always looking to hit the ball on the ground, those are really creditable performances and I hope as a team they can grow, they can improve, because over the years we have struggled in the batting department. Hopefully they can continue in that vein, and also getting runs in the first innings is crucial, so let’s see what will happen in this game,” Miller noted.