Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

HINDS

Former West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds has been dropped from Jamaica's squad for the upcoming Carib Beer Series four-day match against Trinidad and Tobago, which is set to begin in the twin-island republic on Friday.

Hinds will be replaced by all-rounder Brendan Nash.

Also, up to press time last night, it was still uncertain whether top batsman Marlon Samuels would be travelling with the team.

National selectors had included the West Indies middle-order batsman in the 13-man squad, but the decision appeared to hinge on Samuels' availability, given business commitments.

Given the scenario, no replacement could have been named until it was clearly established that Samuels could not make the trip.

Regarding Hinds, Jamaica coach Junior Bennett was unwilling to disclose the reason for his exclusion, when the Jamaican contingent returned to the island yesterday amid mounting anxiety regarding its dismal finish in the Stanford 20/20 final against Trinidad and Tobago at the Stanford Cricket Ground in Antigua, where they suffered an embarrassing nine-wicket defeat.

Team will rebound

The Jamaicans currently lead the standings on 36 points ahead of Barbados (24) and Trinidad and Tobago (16).

Bennett indicated that, although the performance against Trinidad in the 20/20 tournament was poor, he was confident that the team would rebound for the Carib Beer Series, where they have taken maximum points in all three matches played thus far.

"I think we batted poorly in the finals against Trinidad. To be bowled out in a 20/20 game for 91 it is just not good enough. It is a fast-paced game and you just have to get it right from the beginning," said Bennett.

Jamaica will leave the island today for Trinidad and Tobago and training will be in full flight on Thursday.

"We have to make full use of it (time to train). It is getting from one version of the game to the other. We have to regroup as quickly as possible and play some good positive cricket," he said.

The team's captain, Christopher Gayle, credited his team for making the final but expressed dis-appointment with the result.

"It was a good opportunity for us to reach the final," said Gayle, who admitted there were no excuses for the team's dismal performance.

However, Gayle said he was proud the team had endured the challenges and made it to the final.

"Making 91 runs was very disappointing. There was no way we could have restricted Trinidad under 91 runs in a 20/20 game," he pointed out. "But I have to give credit to the guys. They fought to the end. It was a back-to-back game going into the finals. We have no excuses, we just batted poorly."

Not be lambasted

Gayle also said the team should be recognised for their efforts throughout the tournament and not be lambasted for their finals defeat.

"A lot of people can talk and say what they want - we have five million dollars in our pocket right now. Hopefully, we can put this behind us as our main focus is to move on and play some cricket," Gayle said.

"A lot of people out there did not want us in the final. They did not want us to win the money and yet still they are playing hypocrite with us and come and say a lot of things. They can say what they want, I am proud that the guys reached the finals. It could have been worse. I have no regrets."

Quizzed about the team's readiness for the impending Carib Beer Series clash against the Trinidadians, Gayle was optimistic.

"It will be a tough task but we have to get ourselves together," he said. "The guys are up for it and looking forward to the challenges. We just have to get accustomed to four-day cricket again as quickly as possible," said Gayle.