A strong Jamaican cricket squad will start the first of three four-day trial matches today at Up Park Camp in preparation for the 2010 regional first class season.

The 24-man squad, which has been together since last Monday, is missing the West Indies players who are now in Australia for a three-Test series which starts on Thursday.

The squad will be cut to 18 players at the end of the third trial match.

The squad includes Tamar Lambert, who led Jamaica to the four-day title last season. Lambert will be attempting to get back into the team after he was axed for the One-Day tournament in Guyana in October, following an assessment that he was overweight and unfit.

Also included are former West Indies batsman Wavell Hinds, David Bernard Junior, Brenton Parchment, Donovan Pagon, Xavier Marshall, Shawn Findlay, Danza Hyatt, Nikita Miller, Krishmar Santokie and Donovan Sinclair.

The senior fast bowlers in the squad are Andrew Richardson and Daren Powell.

Young batsmen Horace Miller, Zeniffe Fowler and John Ross Campbell along with wicketkeeper Maverick Perry, a former National Under-19 player are also in the squad.