Jermaine Lannaman, Star Writer

Recently reappointed captain Tamar Lambert says he is looking forward to the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day tournament where he hopes to prove that he is still a good enough batsman.

Lambert, who has an average of 30.36 in four- dayers, 31.10 in one-dayers and 4.66 in Twenty20s, was dropped as a batsman and replaced as captain by Wavell Hinds for the just-concluded second annual staging of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament.

This led to his critics questioning whether or not he was still capable of delivering in other formats of the game, and whether the time was right for the 29-year-old to give way for a younger promising batsman.

But, according to Lambert, he is not concerned about his critics, as he knows that he has it in him to contribute to the team.

"I don't let the critics affect me, as the records are there to show I am still one of the most consistent batsman in the team," said Lambert, following yesterday's first day of Jamaica's third and final trial four-day match at Kensington Park.

"I would like to play all format of the game, and as such I am glad for the opportunity to go out there again and show that I am still a good enough batsman,"

He added: "The T20 was a disappointment for me, as I was able to get into the team. But, having said that, it could also be said that said that I have been performing a lot in Twenty20s.

"But my record as a batsman speaks for itself, and I know what I am capable of, so it just for me to go out there and deliver."

Jamaica, who will be gunning for a record fourth consecutive hold on the title this season, will open their account against Guyana next weekend at Alpart Oval in St Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, yesterday's first day of the trial match was ruled by Marlon Samuels who hit an undefeated 131 to guide David Bernard Jr XI to 250 for four.

Samuels, in demonstrating a high level of concentration on a slow and uneven track, faced 229 balls and at the end of the day had tallied 14 fours.

He will resume his innings today with Bernard Jr, who is not out on 16.

Earlier, David Bernard Jr's innings was given a fair enough start, thanks to 62 from Donovan Pagon and 32 from Xavier Marshall.

Left-arm wrist-spinner Dennis Bulli, with two for 69, led the way for Lambert XI.