Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Jamaica's senior cricket team captain Wavell Hinds (left) heads a group of departing teammates at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. Hinds is followed by vice-captain Tamar Lambert, Brenton Parchment (second left) and David Bernard Jr. (right). - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Jamaica's cricketers departed yesterday for the eastern Caribbean, full of confidence in their quest to win both the Carib Beer Shield and KFC Cup one-day tournament.

Dressed in their blazers, white shirts, black, green and gold tie, and black pants, the players boarded their Caribbean Airlines flight some time after 1:00 p.m.

Last year, Jamaica started the Carib Beer series as defending champions, but finished at the bottom with 12 points. And for the past four years, they failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the one-day competition.

Jamaica's only points came at home in their two first matches against Leewards and Windwards at Kensington Park and Alpart respectively.

They went on to lose against Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and Guyana.

"I think we all have to take the blame and pool our efforts together and make sure we give a far improved performance this season," Hinds said.

"We have learnt from the mistakes and it is good for them (the players) to know that if you don't do the necessary work you won't get the necessary results," said Hinds.

He is hopeful that the players will put last season's performance behind them.

Good signs

Coach Junior Bennett, who is in his first season as senior coach, believes they are showing good signs.

"The players are in good spirits, they are looking good. We just hope they carry it into the tournament," he said.

After the first two matches away to the Leeward Islands, starting tomorrow, and the KFC Cup match (one-dayers) next week Tuesday against the Windward Islands on January 12-15), Jamaica will lose their top players to West Indies duties, but Bennett believes they can still win the tournament.

"I think the squad we have here can give us the start we need in a competition and once we get a positive start I think we can take it from there.

"Over the years when you look at it (competitions), even when the West Indies players are away on tour these guys have done well and I think they will step up to the plate again," he added.

Senior opening batsman, Chris Gayle, called on his teammates to lift their game.

"I think we have to produce," Gayle said. "Each and every individual has to go out there and try to build (innings), play as a unit and try and contribute whatever they can for the team to try and regain this championship," he added

"We haven't done well over the last few years, so we have a lot of things to play for, a lot of pride and not only pride, but we want to win the cups as well.

"We are the best team on paper," added Gayle, who has seven Test centuries from 64 matches.

Squad: Wavell Hinds (captain), Tamar Lambert (vice-captain), Christopher Gayle, Brenton Parchment, Lorenzo Ingram, David Bernard Jr., Carlton Baugh Jr., Nikita Miller, Odean Brown, Jerome Taylor, Jermaine Lawson, Daren Powell, Andre Dwyer and Marlon Samuels.

anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com