KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Tamar Lambert, the captain of tournament leaders Jamaica, has expressed surprise at experienced fast bowler Daren Powell’s decision to withdraw from the remainder of the WICB Regional first class season.

The Jamaica Gleaner quoted Lambert yesterday as saying that Powell’s decision surprised the squad but he vowed to maintain their push for a third consecutive regional four-day title.

“The team was a little bit surprised to hear that Powell has opted out,” Lambert said in the Gleaner story.

“But having said that, people come and people go and everyone realises that we still have a job to do and we will just have to do it to the best of our ability. We cannot allow that to distract us from our goal,” Lambert added.

Powell, who takes up a contract with Lancashire in the forthcoming English County season, cited “personal reasons” for the decision which came after he played just two games.

Overlooked for the first game of the season because of disciplinary issues, Powell has been disappointing in his two games, grabbing a mere two wickets.

Even with Powell’s unflattering returns so far Lambert said the 31-year-old will be missed.

“He will definitely be missed as an experienced player. It was always good to have him around, having represented the West Indies and Jamaica on numerous occasions,” Lambert told the Gleaner.

“He is a strike bowler and it was always good to have a player like that, who will bowl fast and get us early wickets,” the burly Jamaica skipper added.

Powell’s withdrawal has cast a huge shadow over his international career especially after he was dropped from the West Indies side following England’s tour of the Caribbean early last year.

He has managed just 85 wickets from 37 Tests in his international career and with the emergence of young fast bowlers like Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul, could struggle to wear maroon colours again.

After a one-week break this weekend in the WICB first class tournament, front-runners Jamaica will face third-placed Combined Campuses and Colleges in the fifth round in Guyana February 12-15.

Jamaica lead the standings with 36 points, three ahead of Barbados and 12 in front of CCC, who have both played one game more.