West Indies top-order batsman Brandon King insists that while playing Test cricket remains his objective, his immediate focus is to provide leadership for Jamaica Scorpions and to score heavily in the regional four-day tournament.

King missed the opening three matches of the first-class season because of his engagement in the West Indies white-ball tour of Australia and participation in the Bangladesh Premier League.

But he returned for fourth-round action last week — and replaced Jermaine Blackwood as captain — to score a pair of assured half-centuries to lift the Scorpions to victory over West Indies Academy.

“It [playing first-class cricket] is a fantastic opportunity to put your name in the hat [for Test team selection]. [But] to be honest, I’m not thinking that far ahead,” he had told journalists on the eve of the encounter against the academy team.

“I’m just taking it one game at a time and trying to put my best foot forward for the Scorpions and see if we can win some games.”

King, 29, is a regular in the West Indies white-ball teams. He has featured in 47 Twenty20 Internationals and 37 One-Day Internationals. But he has never played Test cricket, though he has repeatedly expressed interest in the format.

The West Indies senior team’s next Test assignment is away to England for a three-match series in July.

King averages 34.95 in 35 first-class matches with three centuries, including a best of 194.

He said it was a welcome return to the longer format of regional competition and noted that adjusting his game is par for the course in modern day cricket.

“I am always happy to play four-day [cricket] when given the opportunity,” King said.

“As a professional you might be playing three different formats in the space of a month, that’s just how it is. You have to trust your preparation and it’s more mental than anything at this point.”

He said that taking on captaincy duties for Scorpions — after leading Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League last year — is not a burden.

“I wouldn’t say [there is] added pressure; maybe [there is] added responsibility. But as professionals I think we thrive under pressure, given the opportunity. It’s exciting for me to contribute also in a leadership aspect for this team,” he explained.

No Jamaica team has won the regional first-class title since the 2011-12 campaign.

King noted that the Andrew Richardson-coached Scorpions, who lost two of their opening three matches this season before last week’s win over West Indies Academy, have the calibre of players to do better.

“We definitely have the quality of players to be winning matches consistently, but there is more to it than talent. It has to be a team performance, it can’t just be individuals going out there. And that’s my job as captain, to bring everything together and try to get everybody to perform in their best roles,” he said.

— Sanjay Myers