Hinds bats during his innings of 75 against Barbados, in the WICB Regional Four-day Championship, at Kensington Park earlier this year. The wicketkeeper is Patrick Browne. File

Nehemiah Perry, Jamaica's chairman of selectors, has defended the inclusion of senior batsman Wavell Hinds in the squad for the regional first-class cricket season.

Since the team was selected last week a number of people, especially on radio call-in programmes, have been questioning the inclusion of the 33-year-old Hinds.

However, on one of those radio programmes, Perry was quick to defend Hinds, saying they will continue to include the left-handed batsman until he indicates otherwise.

He said the questions about Hinds' place in the team are unfair.

"A lot of people say they don't see him making the West Indies team, but he has a lot to give for Jamaica and that is what we are looking at here," said Perry.

"We are not looking at the West Indies team ... if he does well and they see it fit to give him a call, then fine," added Perry, who noted Floyd Reifer was brought back at age 38.

Hinds has played 45 Test matches for the West Indies, scoring 2,680 runs at an average of 33.01; and 114 One-day Internationals (ODI), accumulating 2,835 runs at an average of 28.92.

"Wavell has given a lot to Jamaica," continued Perry. "I remember last year when we were down against Barbados at Kensington (Park), Wavell was the one who came out in both innings, and really stabilised the innings and won the game for us."

Hinds made 75 and 59 not out to cop the Man-of-the-Match award and helped Jamaica to win that game by six wickets.

"Wavell has a lot to teach. He is the senior man in the team and he helps with the batting and the morale of the team ... and it's like everybody looks up to him, as he has that seniority," added Perry, a former West Indies spinner.

"If Wavell tells me one day that he is no longer feeling it, then fine. But if he comes and says he is ready, focused and ready to go out there and represent Jamaica, I don't see anything wrong with it (selecting him)," concluded Perry, who noted that Hinds also made some good scores at the recently held trials.

Jamaica will launch their campaign against the Windward Islands in the competition's opening game, from January 8-11 in Jamaica.

Perry