TEENAGE LEG-SPINNER Alton Beckford was among three newcomers named in Jamaica's Carib Beer Series 20-man squad for the upcoming 2005-06 First Class season.
Left-arm spinner Andre Dwyer, who ended with most wickets in the local Supreme Ventures Super Cup two-day competition, and left-arm pacer Leon Bent, joined Beckford as the uncapped players named in the squad.
Beckford, a West Indies invitee who recently played in the regional KFC Cup one-day tournament for Jamaica, bowled impressively in the practice matches.
However, though Bent and Dwyer were not successful in terms of picking up many wickets in the preparation matches, the selectors led by Ruddy Williams (chairman), Lyndel Wright, Courtney Daley and acting captain Tamar Lambert have included the left-handed bowlers who can add a bit of variation to the attack.
LEFT-ARM PACER
Bent is the only left-arm pacer in the squad while Dwyer will compete with Nikita Miller and Lorenzo Ingram as left-arm spinners.
The squad to be captained by Lambert, also includes West Indies pacer Jerome Taylor, who missed the KFC Cup one-day tournament.
In total, there are six players in the squad with Test experience.
The others are wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh Jnr., Xavier Marshall, Dwight Washington, David Bernard Jnr. and Gareth Breese.
A number of the other players have participated at this level before, namely Lambert, Brenton Parchment, Danza Hyatt, Odean Brown, Bevon Brown, Andrew Richardson, Dwight Stewart, Nikita Miller, who recently toured with the West Indies A team, experienced wicketkeeper/ batsman Keith Hibbert, and all-rounder Ingram.
The 13-man squad for the first game against Leeward Islands to be played at Kensington Park on November 25 will be picked from the squad.
Meanwhile, Shawn Findlay highlighted yesterday's final day of the four-day practice match with a timely century at Kensington Park
Findlay was left unbeaten on 139 when play was called off with Breese's XI on 261-7. Final scores in the four-day match, Breese XI 214 and 261-7; Lambert's XI 437, of which Lambert got 155.
