TWO players who did not feature for Jamaica Scorpions last season are ready to fire, after being included in the squad for the Regional Super50 tournament.

Jamaican-born pace bowler Marquino Mindley is back with the Scorpions after outstanding displays with Barbados Pride in last season’s four-day competition.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Denis Smith, who hails from Grenada, is a first-timer with the Jamaican franchise after previously representing Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Mindley, 24, began his first class career impressively in 2014, claiming 5-35 as a teenager on debut against the Volcanoes at Sabina Park in Kingston.

After that he gradually fell out of favour, but last season’s stint with the Pride paved the way for his re-emergence.

The Super50 tournament is set to begin tomorrow and ironically, the Rovman Powell-captained Scorpions, who departed for St Kitts yesterday, open against the Pride on Thursday.

“I’m looking forward to this tournament and looking to lead the attack. I want to be good upfront with the ball and also at the back end,” Mindley told the Jamaica Observer.

“It’s good to be back home; it’s good to be in the Super50 squad. I’ve not played the Super50 for Jamaica since 2016. I have the opportunity now to go out there to showcase my talent, and it’s a good feeling,” he said.

Mindley, formerly a member of the West Indies Under-19 set-up, accounted for 21 wickets from five matches while playing for the Pride in the longer format last season. He described the experience as a career boost.

“It was tough, because Barbados is known for pace bowling and you have a lot of youngsters coming up. Basically, to go over there and prove myself was a big plus for me. I stuck to the plan and did my thing and I performed well,” he said.

Smith, the nephew of former West Indies left-hand opener Devon Smith, featured for losing finalists Western Warriors in the recent Jamaica Cricket Association 50-over Super League tournament.

After earning his spot on the Scorpions squad, the 28-year-old player reaffirmed his batting form with a 93-ball century in a practice match on Saturday.

“I decided to come here and play some hard cricket, and I want to make this season my season. It will either break me or make me,” he told the Observer.

“When I got picked I was rather surprised because Jamaica always have a good bunch of players who are committed to the cricket. The Jamaica side is tough to make, so I’ve got to keep pushing. I got that hundred and that will give me confidence in my batting,” Smith said.

The diminutive glove man said the support and encouragement he has received from his new teammates have been overwhelming.

“The guys always support me; a good bunch of guys. They have welcomed me with open arms so I just want to go out there and execute. I have been putting in a lot of work with the coach; I’ve been working in the nets on my batting and doing a whole heap of wicketkeeping drills,” he said.

The Scorpions and the Pride are drawn in Zone A alongside title-holders Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, and Canada. St Kitts is slated to stage all Zone A matches.

Zone B comprises the hosts Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Guyana Jaguars, Windward Islands Volcanoes, West Indies Emerging Players and United States.

Trinidad is also slated to host the semi-finals and final.

Jamaica Scorpions squad — Rovman Powell (captain), Derval Green (vice-captain), Aldaine Thomas, Denis Smith, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Assad Fudadin, Dennis Bulli, Jamie Merchant, Christopher Lamont, Oshane Thomas, Nicholson Gordon, Andre McCarthy, Marquino Mindley

– Sanjay Myers