Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport

JAMAICA WILL be without West Indian representatives Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Lawson when they begin their KFC Cup regional one-day campaign next week.

The middle-order batsman and pacer were ruled out due to ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively, as the nation's selectors pared down a trial squad from 18 to 14 during a rained-out final practice match at the Kensington ground in Kingston yesterday.

While lamenting the loss of Samuels, in particular, newly appointed captain Chris Gayle said he was happy with the squad named.

"There's just one disappointment … Samuels won't be with us for the start of the tournament, but it's a good all-around squad and, hopefully, everyone can play their part," Gayle said.

Few doubts

Australia-born, left-hand bat Brendan Nash, of Jamaica parentage, has attracted a fair amount of speculation regarding his right to represent the island due to his age, 29, and nationality, but Gayle harboured few doubts.

"He has scored a lot of runs (at the trials), he's brilliant in the field and he can also contribute with the ball," the captain said.

Jamaica, on the fabled 'paper', has been the best team in the Caribbean for at least half a decade but that has translated into four 'non-appearances' in the regional one-day series over the last five years.

While offering no specifics about how to turn around an embarrassing trend which has not seen the island clinch the ODI crown since 1999, the tall Gayle predicts work ethic and pride won't allow the team to be shot down early again.

"We have more skills than any other island you can think of but for four years we have not performed and there must be some reason," Gayle said. "It's up to the individuals to contribute and not anyone to tell them this and that.

"I am a pressure man - and hopefully I can motivate the guys (as captain)," he said.

Nash, the slim debutant from Queensland, rated his selection for Jamaica yesterday ahead of making the northern Australian state's team in 2001.

"I thank the selectors for giving me the opportunity and I made the most of it," he said.

Experience

"I think the experience I gained in Australia playing with guys like (Matthew) Hayden, (Andrew) Symonds and (Andrew) Bicknel really helped me and I think I can bring that here. Being brought up in Australia, it's a never-say-die attitude and I am team orientated, so I hope that can be passed on."

As for his allegiance, Nash has no qualms about adopting Jamaica, the land of his parents' birth, as his home.

"There's heritage here and there's obviously some part of me that makes me feel like this is home," he said.

"This is a long-term move - this is home, I've cut ties with Australia and this is it for me now."

While Nash is safely ensconsed in the final squad, moves are afoot to see if the injured Samuels can be reintroduced to the team by the semi-final stage of the KFC Cup, while former Jamaica captain Wavell Hinds is apparently challenging his ban from the game.

Of academic interest yesterday, Tamar Lambert's XI wandered to 158 for six in 48.3 overs before rain washed out the match against Gayle's XI.

Danza Hyatt made 43 and Keith Hibbert 32, while Nikita Miller (3-22) and Donovan Sinclair (2-19) picked up some cosmetic wickets.

Jamaica squad:

Chris Gayle, Shawn Findlay, Xavier Marshall, Tamar Lambert, Donovan Sinclair, Danza Hyatt, Brenton Parchment, Brendan Nash, Nikita Miller, Carlton Baugh, Jerome Taylor, Krishmar Santokie, Daren Powell, Andrew Richardson.