Batsman Brandon King says while the tight global cricket schedule has limited his chances of featuring in the regional four-day tournament, he still wants to play Test cricket.

The 28-year-old Jamaican is a member of the West Indies squad set to face hosts South Africa in a One-Day International series set to start on Thursday. The tour coincides with the regional first class championship, with third-round action scheduled for this week.

“I would love to get the opportunity to play Test cricket — I’ve made that clear at every opportunity. Obviously, it’s difficult with the schedule that’s coming,” King told the Jamaica Observer prior to departing to the African continent.

Since making his debut for West Indies in 2019 he has played 32 Twenty20 (T20) and 20 One-Day International (ODI) matches, but has been overlooked for cricket’s longest format.

King, considered among the region’s best batting talents, topped the runs aggregate with 422 in the Caribbean Premier League T20 last season to help Jamaica Tallawahs lift the title.

He averages 34.84 with a best of 194 in 32 first class matches, and underlined his class with an unbeaten 119 for Jamaica Scorpions against Windward Islands Volcanoes in Trinidad last May. That was his lone outing in the four-day competition last season and he has not played a first class match since, mostly due to West Indies white-ball duty.

Cricket West Indies, under President Ricky Skerritt, said it had scrapped the strict guidelines implemented by the previous administration which, barring an exemption, forced Test aspirants to participate in the regional first class tournament.

However, even then, West Indies selectors have seemingly been reluctant to pick those who have either not played in the four-day competition or have only featured on a limited basis.

“I’d love to play four-day [cricket] but the limited overs series in South Africa is going on at the same time so it’s unfortunate scheduling sometimes — it doesn’t give you the opportunity to really showcase what you can do. But I don’t focus on selection too much, I just try to do what I can control,” the stylish, free-scoring right-hander explained.

King, who has exhibited fluent form in practice with the Scorpions and scored 89 and a century for Sabina Park-based Kingston Cricket Club in two local Senior Cup matches, said he relished the time spent with the Jamaica Scorpions players.

“It’s an opportunity to have a conversation with the guys [Scorpions players] to share some knowledge and try to help them going into the next round of four-day games. And I’m glad to get some time out in the middle,” he said.