Jamaica Scorpions batsman Kirk McKenzie, named in the West Indies A squad to tour Bangladesh, says his recent maiden first-class ton, which he converted into a classy double hundred, was all about patience and focus.

McKenzie, 22, notched 221 while opening the batting for West Indies Academy against Team Weekes in the Headley-Weekes Tri Series late last month in Antigua.

The left-hander, who made his first-class debut in June 2022, hit 26 fours and a lone six during his monumental 386-ball stay at the crease.

In the prior Tri Series match he had scored 50 and zero against Team Headley.

“I just told myself I was going to take more time just to bat more balls and not worry about how fast I was scoring or if I was scoring boundaries or anything. I just stayed within myself, really,” the former West Indies youth standout told the Jamaica Observer.

McKenzie only averaged 18, with a best of 56 in three matches during the regional four-day tournament which preceded the Tri Series.

The Kingston Cricket Club player was relieved to put that disappointment behind him by compiling a knock that catapulted him into the Joshua Da Silva-captained 15-member squad to face Bangladesh in three unofficial four-day Tests.

“It feels good getting that monkey off my back, my first first-class hundred and to make it into a double, I wasn’t really expecting that, I won’t lie.

“But after I made a 100 I said to myself, ‘Let’s see how much I can get after this,’ and then when I got close to 200 it felt good and then I crossed the line,” the Jamaican said, adding that he had not been “patient enough” during his appearances in the regional four-day campaign.

West Indies lead selector Desmond Haynes said McKenzie’s innings earned him a place on the trip to Bangladesh.

“McKenzie was eye-catching during his double century for the West Indies Academy in the Headley-Weekes Tri Series. It was a superb knock and demonstrated that the investment in the academy is bearing fruit,” said the iconic former West Indies opener.

Cricket West Indies had arranged the Tri Series to have the youthful West Indies Academy players compete against two teams comprising some of the top players in the region.

The academy players acquitted well, exceeding most expectations on their way to defeating Team Headley by seven wickets and having much the better of Team Weekes in their drawn contest.

McKenzie’s teammates Guyanese batsman Kevlon Anderson and Barbadian Kevin Wickham each scored a century during the series. Another Barbadian, pacer Johann Layne, was one of the highlights with the ball, taking 5-43 in the victory over Team Headley.

McKenzie said the series presented the ideal test for him and his peers.

“It was a good experience playing against the best players in this season’s four-day tournament. Playing against the best, it is only going to improve your game all the time, so you always want to reach that level.

“These games are not only good for me but for my teammates in the academy, being able to get some first-class games under our belts,” the former St George’s College and Excelsior High schoolboy cricketer explained.

West Indies A are set to face their Bangladesh counterparts in the first match from May 16-19, followed by the second from May 23-26, and the final contest from May 30-June 2.

The tour reciprocates the Bangladesh A tour of the Caribbean in August last year when the teams played two unofficial Tests and three one-day matches.

Squad — Joshua Da Silva (captain), Alick Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan, Brandon King, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk McKenzie, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair.