Scorpions focused squarely on winning, says Coley
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) — Without a domestic 50-over title in nearly a decade, Jamaica Scorpions will have a single focus when they contest the Regional Super50 next month.
“It is a tournament, so the main objective must be to win,” said new Head Coach Andre Coley who has returned to his native franchise following two years with Windward Islands Volcanoes.
“I don’t believe that development plays a significant part at this level in this kind of tournament, so the main objective must be to win, but if we can have consistency in all areas and we are able to show adaptability against the different opposition, that would be a plus.”
The tournament is slated to run from November 6 until December 1.
Any route to their first championship title since 2011 will have to go through the likes of last year’s champions Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners with whom they have been grouped with in Zone A.
The Scorpions will also clash with Barbados Pride, invitational side Canada and hosts Leeward Islands Hurricanes in a competitive zone. Matches in the zone are scheduled for Warner Park and Conaree Sports Complex in St Kitts.
Zone B of the Super50 will be staged in Trinidad and comprises last year’s losing finalists, Guyana Jaguars, Windward Islands Volcanoes, West Indies Emerging Players, United States, and hosts Red Force.
Coley said it is important not to take any team for granted but to focus on consistency, especially with each team playing eight games.
“In this format, it is important we respect the opposition, taking into consideration the environment in which we will be playing,” he explained.
“In this version, any team that plays consistently well on the day will win the game, so it will be about taking one game, one opposition at a time.
“The reality that we play each other team twice will give an indication and an opportunity to perform, so we are looking to take it one opposition at a time relative to the conditions.”
Scorpions have been strengthened by the inclusion of the West Indies pair of Jermaine Blackwood and Rovman Powell. Andre McCarthy, who scored heavily during the last Super50 campaign, is also included.
Veteran left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, the Scorpions’ leading wicket-taker last season, is retired and has joined the coaching staff but Coley still believes the franchise will carry a threat in attack.
“Our depth is reflected in our batting. We have the likes of Rovman Powell, who will captain the team, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner and Andre McCarthy, who has done well in the tournament in recent times,” he said.
“We also have decent lower-order batting, so the strength in our team will definitely be the batting. We have capable bowlers to form a solid bowling attack, even though it is young, but we believe we have enough skill in that department to be competitive,” Coley said.
Squad: Jamaica Scorpions — Rovman Powell (captain), Aldaine Thomas, Dennis Smith, Derval Green, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Assad Fudadin, Dennis Bulli, Jamie Merchant, Christopher Lamont, Oshane Thomas, Nicholson Gordon, Andre McCarthy, Marquino Mindley
Reserves — Jermaine Levy, Javelle Glen, Gordon Bryan, Damani Sewell, Alwyn Williams