Brendan Nash ... set to make first-class debut for Jamaica. - FILE

JAMAICA YESTERDAY finalised their 13-man squad to face the Leeward Islands in tomorrow's opening match of the 2008 Carib Beer Series at Sabina Park. After spending some time in the boardroom trying to come up with the best 13, coach Junior Bennett was a satisfied man in the end.

"The selectors came up with a 13-man squad based on the combination they want to use," said Bennett.

"I think it's a fairly balanced squad," he continued. "The side was hard to come by because when you look at the 18, they are all quality players," added Bennett.

In the end, Australian Brendan Nash is expected to make his first-class debut for Jamaica while Xavier Marshall and Donovan Pagon could find a place in the final XI for the first time in more than one year.Andrew Richardson, Gavin Wallace, Danza Hyatt, Bevon Brown and Donovan Sinclair were the five players left out of the squad.

Jamaica squad: Tamar Lambert (captain), Wavell Hinds, Xavier Marshall, Brendan Nash, Shawn Findlay, Donovan Pagon, Nikita Miller, Odean Brown, Jermaine Lawson, Andre Russell, David Bernard, Carlton Baugh, Keith Hibbert.

Meanwhile, the Leeward Islands team, led by captain Omari Banks, arrived in the island yesterday for tomorrow's clash at Sabina Park.