January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

10 players who could shake up Cup Match


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With at least half of last year's Cup Match stars unable to play this time, competition for places has been fierce. The selection battle comes to a head this weekend as Somerset and St George's hold their final trial games before announcing their final elevens on Saturday night. Here James Whittaker take a look at ten players who will be involved this weekend and assesses their season stats and their chances of making an impression in the classic.

Five to watch: St. George's

Fiqre Crockwell

Opening batsman and wicket-keeper

PHC

Since moving from St. David's where he shared wicket-keeping duties with Chris Foggo, Crockwell has become Mr Consistency.

The youngster has five half-centuries to his name this season in seven innings and has improved with the bat since giving up the gloves. He's been playing at the lower level in the First Division, but with Foggo away with the national team his formidable batting stats put him in with a big shout of making the St George's line-up.

Three catches and a stumping when he played behind the stumps for St. Davids in the Eastern County did his cause no harm and he could be used as a keeper if St George's don't opt for a specialist.

Batting stats: 398 runs at an average of 56.86

David 'Chick' Adams

Leg-spinner

PHC

After a few years out of the game Adams has lost none of his potency.

The leg-spinner has led PHC to the top of Division One with 16 wickets so far this season.

He has a tidy economy rate and as one of the few wrist-spinners on the island he has the capacity to make things happen. He doesn't offer much with the bat and he's well into his forties but with St George's captain Lionel Cann indicating that the champions will pick an experienced side this year on what could well be a turning wicket, he may well be about to make his comeback. Adams is currently 29th in the all-time top wicket-takers at the classic, though he has not played since 2001.

Bowling stats: 16 wickets at 12.94 avg with an economy rate of 3.05.

Regino Smith

Off-spinner and early order bat

Flatts

Hyped as one of the future stars for St. George's and Bermuda, Smith had had a decent season for Flatts and the Under-18s.

He hasn't really been amongst the wickets at the Sir Garfield Sobers tournament, where he has been in better form with the bat.

Domestically, though, it's been the other way round and if he makes the St. George's squad it will probably be as an all-rounder.

Batting stats: 97 runs at an average of 19

Bowling stats: Six wickets at an average of 29.17

Tre Govia

Leg-spinner

Bailey's Bay and Bermuda Under-18s

Wrist-spinner Govia has excelled for the Under-18s in Barbados and despite being one of the younger players in that squad he could be an outsider for Cup Match. It's hard to see St. George's going with two leg-spinners so much depends on whether they opt for the proven track record of Adams or the potential of Govia.

The youngster has done his cause no harm at the Sir Garfield Sobers tournament, snaring three wickets against Dominica and Queen's Park as well as 2 for 11 against Barbados.

Bowling stats: Four wickets at an average of 20 (Does not include Sobers tournament)

Jason Anderson

Batsman/Wicket-keeper

PHC

The 29-year-old wicket-keeper and opening batsman is a standby for the national team after a great season for PHC.

With 272 runs, including 74 against Bailey's Bay last month, he's currently the fifth top scorer in the country. Along with fellow St George's contenders - Crockwell and Adams - he has been one of the main reasons for PHC's success this year. He's an accomplished keeper and looks a good shout to replace Foggo behind the stumps.

Batting stats: 272 runs at an average of 30.22 n

[[In-content Ad]]Chris Douglas

Opening batsman and off-spin bowler

Warwick Workman's

Talented young all-rounder Douglas was one of the stars of Bermuda U-19s World Cup campaign.

He was sent home from that tour for disciplinary reasons and has not been involved with the national programme since.

But he has excelled domestically - all be it in the First Division. He batted his first century of the season on Sunday against PHC and is coming into form at the right time.

He's from St. David's and was invited to try out for St George's but opted for the challengers instead.

Batting stats: 342 runs at an average of 57

Bowling stats: 13 wickets at an average of 16.23 with a 4.14 economy rate.

Dion Stovell

Right hand bat

Southampton Rangers

Talented Rangers opener Dion Stovell is almost certain to reclaim his place at the top of the order for the challengers after an impressive season so far.

He proved himself the man for the big occasion by belting an unbeaten 86 and taking four wickets to lead his side to glory in the BELCO Cup, a performance which he followed with a match winning knock of 67 against PHC in the Western County.

He hit 77 against Western Stars in the league earlier this year and 45 against Cleveland at the weekend.

He struggled on his Cup Match debut in 2006 and missed out last year through injury, but seems certain to be recalled in the absence of Stephen Outerbridge this time.

No up-to-date stats available for Stovell.

Terryn Fray

Right hand opening bat

Bermuda U18s

The skipper of the Under-18 side, Fray is one of the best young prospects in Bermuda.

He crashed a huge unbeaten century against Somerset Bridge earlier this season and also reached three figures for the Under-19s, when, as one of the youngest players in the squad, he helped Bermuda win the Americas Championship and qualify for the Youth World Cup.

He's still only 17 but has been marked out as one with the talent and the temperament for the highest level.

He showed those qualities again at the Sir Garfield Sobers tournament last week with a top score of 45 against Barbados.

Batting stats: 173 runs at an average of 57.2

Jordan De Silva

Left arm fast-medium/left hand bat

Somerset/Bermuda Under-18s

The vice-captain of Bermuda's Under-18s, De Silva has been talked about as an exciting prospect for Somerset since he first came on the scene as an 11-year-old.

The youngster, who cites Sri Lankan left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas and batsman Kumar Sangakkara, as his favourite players has had a decent season for both Somerset and the Under-19s without taking bagfuls of wickets.

With Malachi Jones, and potentially Kevin Hurdle, pending fitness tests, who would otherwise be dead certain to make the Somerset squad, he has his work cut out to find a place in the seam attack.

But if Somerset have an eye on the future, the 18-year-old, currently leading his country's attack in Barbados, could be one to watch.

Not enough games to record relevant stats.

Sammy Robinson

Right arm medium pace, right hand bat

Warwick Workman's

A decade after smashing a half-century as a colt, Sammy Robinson looks to be in line for a recall for Somerset.

Now a veteran at 32, the all-rounder has enjoyed a brilliant season since transferring from St David's to Warwick. He's in the top ten run scorers and the top-ten wicket-takers on the island and looks certain to replace Dean Stephens in the line-up.

Batting stats: 234 runs at an average of 29.25 and 14 wickets at an average of 15.79 and an economy rate of 3.52.

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