Leg-spinner Jacobs to face Kiwis in final warm-up

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica’s Headley/Weekes Trophy hero Damion Jacobs has been included in a 13-man squad to face New Zealand, in a three-day practice match starting here tomorrow.

The squad will be led by Paul Palmer and also includes first class players Horace Miller, Jamie Merchant and Andre McCarthy all of whom missed the opening two-day practice match against the Black Caps, which finished in a draw on Friday.

Jacobs, who has played just four first class matches for Jamaica, made his mark in the final of the Headley/Weekes Trophy last month when he snatched eight for 47 with his leg-spin in the first innings against the Windward Islands.

The 29-year-old finished with match figures of ten for 122, as Jamaica took top honours in the final at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.

The game, scheduled for the Trelawny Stadium in the north of the island, is the final warm-up fixture for New Zealand before they face West Indies in the opening Test of the three-match series, which bowls off at Sabina Park in Kingston on June 8th.

SQUAD – Paul Palmer (captain), Kennar Lewis, John Campbell, Andre McCarthy, Brandon King, Derval Green, Horace Miller, Christopher Powell, Nicholson Gordon, Brian Buchanan, Gavon Brown, Damion Jacobs, Jamie Merchant.