Jamaica Scorpions stand-in captain Marquino Mindley says he is eager to step onto the field to lead his team into battle against reigning champions Guyana Harpy Eagles in the fourth-round regional first-class match at Sabina Park.

The four-day cricket contest is scheduled to begin at 10:00am on Wednesday.

Mindley, the team’s pace bowling leader, was thrust into the role after regular Scorpions captain John Campbell was sidelined due to a groin strain. It is the 30-year-old Mindley’s first opportunity to skipper the Scorpions.

“It’s a new challenge, and I’m just looking forward to it. I’ve always been among the leaders in the team and I was named captain of the fast bowling unit. There’s not much difference — it’s a similar role and the same everything going forward,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Jamaica Scorpions head coach Robert Haynes told the Observer that Mindley has the team’s full support.

“Mindley, who has a vast amount of experience, is going to captain the side, and he has the support of the players,” Haynes said.

After one win and two losses, the Scorpions are fifth in the league table with 32.6 points, while the Harpy Eagles are top with 57.6.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (55.4) are in second spot, followed by third-placed Leeward Islands Hurricanes (50.8), fourth-placed Barbados Pride (50), sixth-placed Windward Islands Volcanoes (16.8), seventh-placed placed Combined Campuses and Colleges (15.2) and last-placed West Indies Academy (12.6).

Mindley said the Scorpions are positive they can bounce back from the losses which both came after they opened the season with a victory over the Volcanoes.

“We lost those two games and the guys are disappointed about those, but going into this game their confidence is up. We have our plans, so it’s just to stick to those plans longer and, hopefully, we can come out victorious in this game,” he said.

“Guyana are very good in this format, but we have [high] quality players in our group. As I said, it’s just for our players to stick to the process and the results will follow,” the Jamaican pace bowler noted.

Mindley’s lone Test match for West Indies came in late 2022 on the tour of Australia but injury limited his participation to only two overs.

As he looks to stake his claim for a return to the Test match arena, he has started the four-day season in good form, taking eight wickets, including a best of 4-44, at an average of 18.12.

“I’m person who trusts the process and I’m always trying to do the right things. I know that once I continue to do the right things and the opportunity comes I just have to grab it with both hands,” he said.

—Sanjay Myers