Somerset Cricket Club president Richard Scott is confident in his team’s ability to, not only defend the Cup Match trophy, but to do so in winning fashion.
Speaking with TNN Scott noted his club to have selected a solid group of players, with there having been just two changes made to the side that soundly defeated St George’s by 10 wickets last year.
“Yes, we are the champions and we have an agenda, which is to go to Wellington Oval and win the match,” said Scott. “In order to win the match we have stack our team with all-rounders, including players that can rack up the runs as well as bowl St George’s out and I believe that the selection committee has done a phenomenal job in achieving that goal.
“We’ll see on Friday, but I’m confident that we have a team that can not only defend the trophy, but can win the match.”
Saturday’s trial match offered a chance for players to get in some finakl match practice ahead of the classic, with Steven Bremar being recalled following a one-year absence and Maquille Walker selected for the first time.
Many Somerset supporters had been hopeful of there being a place for homegrown talent Jermel Proctor, with Scott also keen on the young fast bowler.
Proctor has looked devastatingly fast and tactically adept in turining out for the league team, but will have to wait at least another year for another opportunity to break through.
“Several months ago when we were talking about the cricket program here I had a conversation with Mike Corday, the chairman of cricket and I reiterated to Mike that this is his gig and I would not intervene and I’m sticking to that,” said Scott. “There are other people who I’m looking forward to breaking into our Cup Match team.
“We have youngsters like Jermel Proctor, Dominic Sabir and a wealth of talent that are coming through our ranks.
“And I totally get it. There are only 11 that can play and someone’s going to be disappointed.”
The champions this week put a ‘bow’ on preparations before heading east for what they hope is another victory procession at their host’s expense.
“The training sessions have been great,” added Scott. “They’ve been intense.
“We’ve seen these guys work together and the camaraderie that they have after training is over is fantastic. They’ll be sitting together having conversations about the training sessions, joking with each other and sharing notes, so it’s been a good vibe.
“But when the selections are made there’s always going to be an element of disappointment, but I say for them not to consider it as the door being shut, but to look at there still being opportunity to open that door in the future.”
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