Few things spell “ summer in Bermuda” better than Cup Match. The legendary cricket tournament, which some Bermudians wait all year for, is scheduled to come back in full-swing
on Thursday July 28 and Friday July 29. It will be the Classic’s first time back in Somerset since Somerset’s historic two-to-one victory four years ago.
TNN spoke to Team Somerset fromer Captain Jekon Edness, one of this year’s coaches. He was actually captain for Somerset for a few years and was their wicketkeeper as recently as 2018.
Mr. Edness told TNN that he and the other Somerset coaches are looking forward to helping players reach their full potential during those two days.
Somerset will have two trials next week, and any eleven players can be selected from those trials.
According to him, Somerset’s core might be eight or nine players, but it’s still important to freshen and liven things up with newer players.
TNN also spoke to former St. George’s player and current coach Wendell Smith, who has only been coaching at St. George’s for about two years, previously coaching at St. David’s and Western Stars Cricket Clubs.
Mr. Smith says that, despite what members of the public and/or the St. George’s community might feel, the club will pick the players whom they feel deserve to play for the tournament.
Similar to Mr. Edness, he values the importance of younger/newer players.
“ It’s important to blood youngsters who have a lot of promise so that they can get the feel of the atmosphere, but they also should be deserving of that spot,” he explained. “ We have a lot of people whom we are very much looking at blooding, and what should be interesting is that Saturday before Cup Match, when that team is announced at night, there may be some surprises, because some members of the public may not be following local cricket enough to
truly know who these up-and-coming cricketers are.”
As far back as Mr. Smith can remember, St. George’s coaches have always had a say as to who makes it to the final team for the tournament, as well as the team captains and three other people. That is how it is done at the St. George’s Cricket Club.
“ [The selection process] is a serious process to go through, but at the end of the day, we have to be objective and pick the team that would be best on the field,” Mr. Smith said.
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