Miller joins up - Spinner boosts J’can squad for regional final

Miller joins up – Spinner boosts J’can squad for regional final

Apr 07, 2011 Sports

LEFT-ARM orthodox spinner Nikita Miller was scheduled to leave the island Tuesday for Barbados to replace leg-spinner Akeem Dewar in Jamaica’s squad for the championship match of the West Indies Cricket Board Regional four-day tournament against the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team.
Speaking to the Observer moments before his departure to meet up with the other 12 members of the squad for Friday’s game, Miller said he was anxious to help the Jamaicans to their fourth straight lien on the regional title.
“I’m leaving for Barbados shortly and I’m fit and definitely ready to help Jamaica in the final,” said the 28-year-old.
Miller, fast bowler Andre Russell and batsman Chris Gayle were part of the West Indies team that was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Asia. He was given time to rest for last week’s semi-final against Trinidad & Tobago, while Gayle is still recovering from an abdominal injury picked up at the World Cup.
Russell, however, took part in that Trinidad game and picked up four first-innings wickets to help Jamaica get by their opponents.
Miller has taken 163 first-class wickets at a miserly average of 18.85 in 38 matches and chairman of selectors Ruddy Williams believes his inclusion is a big boost to the team’s chances in the final.
“He (Miller) is available and will replace Dewar. It must be a boost to have him in the squad in Barbados because he has been very successful for Jamaica over the years. He is a West Indies contracted player and he offers (a lot of) experience,” Williams said.
No other changes have been made to the squad, but a few adjustments might be made to the starting 11.
Opener Brenton Parchment, who watched from the sidelines for the last game, could win a starting place ahead of either left-hander Simon Jackson or the hard-hitting Danza Hyatt.
Ace wrist-spinner Odean Brown has failed to reproduce his early-season form and has struggled to make vital breakthroughs in his last three outings.
Despite that, Brown has been the top wicket-taker for Jamaica this season with 23 in seven matches, albeit at an expensive rate of 36.13 apiece.
With the Jamaicans likely to retain the fast bowling pair of Jason Dawes and Russell, as well as all-rounder David Bernard Jr, the wily spinner may lose his place to Miller. Dewar, who played his second first-class match in the league phase against England Lions at Sabina Park, was scheduled to return home yesterday.
Jamaica squad — Tamar Lambert (capt), Danza Hyatt, Brenton Parchment, Marlon Samuels, Brendan Nash, Wavell Hinds, David Bernard Jr, Chadwick Walton, Andre Russell, Nikita Miller, Jason Dawes, Odean Brown, Simon Jackson.

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Miller joins up – Spinner boosts J’can squad for regional final

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