Reigning champions Jamaica are without several of their best players, but they will still be looking to make a confident start to this year's West Indies first-class championship, when they face Leeward Islands in the opening round from today at Warner Park.

More than half of the West Indies side currently touring New Zealand hail from Jamaica and this could impact upon the visitors, who do not travel easy. The Jamaicans have still put together a fairly decent side for the match, under the leadership of Tamar Lambert.

Uncapped members

Jason Dawes and Horace Miller, two former Young West Indies players, are the only uncapped members of the squad.

Wavell Hinds returns to the line-up after opting out last season to play in the Indian Cricket League and then Derbyshire in the English County Championship.

Others, such as Brenton Parchment, Dave Bernard Jr, Keith Hibbert, Danza Hyatt, Donovan Pagon, and Andrew Richardson, are all familiar faces at the regional level.

The Leewards have plunged from the lofty heights of the 1980s and 1990s, but they, too, have a few exciting players that need to buckle down.

Their captain Runako Morton will be anxious to play a few solid innings to put himself back in the frame for the West Indies side.

Others, such as Tonito Willett, Montcin Hodge, Austin Richards Jr, Kieran Powell, and Devon Thomas, have all proven themselves for their respective islands in the sub-regional championship, but now need to bring the same passion to the regional level.

The bowling will revolve around Omari Banks' off spin, and Gavin Tonge's stiff medium pace, but the others will have to rise to the challenge for the Leewards to become a real force again.

Squads

Leeward Islands (from): Runako Morton (captain), Omari Banks, Wilden Cornwall, Brent Defreitas, Montcin Hodge, Anthony Martin, Orlando Peters, Kieran Powell, Tariq Prince, Austin Richards Jr, Devon Thomas, Gavin Tonge, and Tonito Willett.

Jamaica (from): Tamar Lambert (captain), Dave Bernard Jr, Odean Brown, Jason Dawes, Keith Hibbert, Wavell Hinds, Danza Hyatt, Horace Miller, Donovan Pagon, Brenton Parchment, Andrew Richardson, André Russell, Gavin Wallace.

In two other opening round matches, Barbados host Trinidad and Tobago at the Police Sports Club while Guyana travel to Queen's Park, Grenada, to face the Windward Islands.