Jamaica Scorpions batsman Paul Palmer welcomes back regular Captain Nikita Miller for the clash away to Leeward Islands Volcanoes at Warner Park in the regional four-day championship.
Left-arm finger spinner Miller missed the first three rounds of the competition after undergoing a haemorrhoid operation in September.
The Scorpions departed the island for St Kitts and Nevis on Monday for tomorrow’s start of the fourth-round encounter.
“To have Nikita Miller is always a positive and we are looking forward to him being in the team again,” Palmer told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday after the Scorpions held on for a draw against Barbados Pride in the badly rain-affected day/night match at Sabina Park last weekend.
Miller, 35, made his first class debut in 2005 and has been Jamaica’s premier spin bowler for almost a decade.
He underlined his quality by being the top wicket-taker in the tournament last season, despite the Scorpions team having a disappointing campaign.
Miller’s inclusion in the starting team could prove the catalyst for the consistency that the bowling unit needs. They lacked it against Barbados Pride as the visitors rattled up 304-7 in their first innings.
“I think we bowled well in patches, but we didn’t bowl well enough for long periods that’s required for four days of cricket. We just have to work on that aspect and be more consistent, bowl to our fields, and stick to our plans and execute them as a unit,” Palmer said when asked about the bowling effort against the Pride.
He stressed that a better display is needed if they are to topple the ever-improving Volcanoes.
“The Hurricanes are playing good cricket, so we are just going to bring our ‘A’ game and try to execute our plans,” Palmer told the Observer.
The Hurricanes are third in the six-team table with 38.6 points, while the Scorpions (18.2) are fifth. They trail defending champions and leaders Guyana Jaguars (46.6 points) and second-placed Trinidad & Tobago Red Force (41.4). Barbados (23.2) are fourth, while Windward Islands Volcanoes (15.6) are last.
Squad— Nikita Miller (captain), John Campbell, Garth Garvey, Trevon Griffith, Assad Fudadin, Brandon King, Paul Palmer, Stephen Taylor, Derval Green, Dennis Bulli, Damion Jacobs, Reynard Leveridge, Oshane Thomas.