Mental barrier impeding Scorpions

Head coach Robert Samuels believes mental issues, not technical ones, have been affecting batsmen in the Jamaica Scorpions team the last few seasons.

The former West Indies opener made the assessment following the team's 41 runs win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Sabina Park earlier this week in the Digicel WICB Regional Four-day Championship.

Early front-runners

It also comes ahead of the start of the third round today, which will see Jamaica and early front-runners Barbados Pride square-off at the same venue, beginning at 10 a.m.

Jamaica, who, despite the win, are currently fifth in the six-team championship following a loss to title-holders Guyana Jaguars in the opening round, have so far registered a highest total of 208 in four innings, with the others yielding 151, 157, and 147.

"The batting has been struggling now for the past two seasons, plus and I have been rocking my brain trying to come up with a solution to the collapses,'' said Samuels.

"It's keeping me up at nights, and I am trying my very best to find a solution to get rid of it.

"But what I can say is it's not about the coach anymore. It's not a technical problem. It's more of a mental problem and more of a personal problem. They need to step up, stand up, and be counted, and take more pride in their play.''

Barbados defeated Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by 292 runs in Trinidad last weekend after drawing against the Leeward Islands in St Kitts in round one.