Lambert axed on verge of 100th first class match

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Veteran batsman and former captain Tamar Lambert has been axed from the Jamaica Scorpions squad for their sixth round clash against minnows Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the Regional Four-Day Championship which resumes next week.

Former captain Tamar Lambert has been axed from the Scorpions squad for the sixth round clash with Hurricanes.
Former captain Tamar Lambert has been axed from the Scorpions squad for the sixth round clash with Hurricanes.

The 34-year-old Lambert, who is just one game away from his 100th first class match, was not included in a 13-man squad announced by selectors.

Paul Palmer continues as captain of the squad which sees the inclusion of the batting trio of Shacaya Thomas, Jermaine Blackwood and Kirk Edwards.

Thomas is yet to play this season, Test player Blackwood has returned following West Indies duty in Australia while Edwards is back in the side after sitting out the Regional Super50 last month.

Lambert was also left out of the start of the season but then recalled for the third round to help solidify Scorpions’ faltering batting.

However, the right-hander’s form proved patchy with 120 runs from six innings at an average of 20. His highest score was 45 against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Port of Spain, in his first game back.

He could only scrape together 47 runs from four innings in the Regional Super50, as Scorpions failed to reach the semi-finals.

Scorpions are third in the standings on 53 points behind leaders Guyana Jaguars on 83 points, with Barbados Pride second on 63 points.

SQUAD – Paul Palmer Jr (captain), John Campbell, Kirk Edwards, Jermaine Blackwood, AndrÈ McCarthy, Devon Thomas, Carlton Baugh Jr, David Bernard Jr, Nikita Miller, Damion Jacobs, Sheldon Cottrell, Marquino Mindley, Shacaya Thomas.