DESPITE talk in some circles that Jamaica Tallawahs lack batting punch with the loss of star all-rounder Andre Russell, the franchise’s newly acquired spin bowler Chris Green says they have the depth in power hitting to carry them deep into the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) this season.

The two-time former champions are to open their account against title holders St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the tournament’s curtain-raiser at Warner Park in Basseterre on Wednesday.

The first ball is to be bowled 6:00 pm Jamaica time.

The Tallawahs’ Fabian Allen, Amir Jangoo and Raymon Reifer stood out with explosive knocks in the 6IXTY competition — a prelude to the CPL Twenty20 (T20) cricket showpiece — before they lost to the eventual winners, Patriots, in the play-offs.

Rovman Powell, the Tallawahs captain, has a big-hitting reputation, while Brandon King, who sat out the 6IXTY, is an important top-order weapon for the Jamaica-based franchise.

“Andre Russell is an incredible player, very damaging, powerful, but a lot of these guys coming through are starting to match him blow for blow and even outdo him at certain times,” Green said during a press conference on the eve of the CPL opener.

But former West Indies and Ja maica spin bowler Nehemiah Perry believes Russell’s departure has exposed a void.

“The team is weakened when you have ‘Dre Russ’ [Russell] leaving; it dents the team’s chances,” he said in reference to Russell’s move to four-time former champions Trinbago Knight Riders (formerly Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel).

“I don’t see the Tallawahs going all the way this year… they don’t have enough ammunition or firepower.

“The Tallawahs have Fabian Allen and Rovman and Brandon King… but I think they are going to fall short because when you look at the Trinbago Knight Riders, they look seriously good and teams like Guyana Amazon Warriors look very good,” the former spinner told the Jamaica Observer.

“Having said that, I believe when you play as a team and gel together, when you fight and work together as a unit you can be very dangerous.

“Maybe teams take their eyes off the Tallawahs and the Tallawahs might surprise them. And in T20 cricket anything can play, it takes a brilliant moment, a brilliant over, or one spectacular innings [during which] a player blasts 40 off 10 balls to change the complexion of the game,” Perry noted.

Green argued the 6IXTY gave a solid preview into the quality of the Tallawahs squad.

“I certainly didn’t see shortage on firepower,” the 28-year-old player said in response to a question from the Observer.

“We saw what Fabian Allen can do — he’s in incredible form. Our Captain Rovman Powell is arguably in the best form of his career the last 12 to 18 months, hitting the ball cleanly. Brandon King has come to the franchise — he’s got incredible firepower and I spent years playing with him at Guyana,” the Australian spinner said.

The Tallawahs won the inaugural CPL in 2013, and added another title in 2016, but, for the most part, have been way off the pace in recent seasons.

Green said the Tallawahs’ quest to prove they are a formidable force this campaign begins with the Patriots’ test.

“They’re a good team, all teams are pretty strong in this tournament. But the way we’re preparing going into it — with the inclusion of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, they’ll add a lot of bowling maturity to our side as well. I think we’re in a good place to go really far in this tournament and it starts tomorrow night,” he said.

The Patriots, captained by veteran former West Indies skipper Dwayne Bravo, are chock-full of confidence after winning their maiden CPL title last season and also claiming the inaugural 6IXTY men’s crown days ago.

He said his players are looking to pick up from where they left off in the 2021 CPL.

“It’s a good foundation we’ve started to build and we have the belief as a franchise and as a team that we can be a dominant force in the CPL,” Bravo said during Tuesday’s press conference.

“We’re looking forward to defending our title, and not only that, we are looking to play a brand of cricket to entertain the fans and make the franchise owners and St Kitts and Nevis proud,” said the Trinidadian, who turns 39 in October.

— Sanjay Myers