January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Bowlers need to perform if Westenders want the Cup
The selectors have signaled their intent, picking a side built to take 20 wickets, rather than bat for hours on end. They will rely on a few key players with the willow and hope that a strong and varied bowling attack can put St. George's to the sword. Here James Whittaker takes a look at the eleven men carrying Somerset's hopes this season.
Jacobi Robinson, 24
Somerset
Right-arm medium/fast, right-hand bat
An opening bowler and explosive middle order bat, Robinson is a pivotal figure at Somerset Cricket Club. He grew up within a stone's throw of the stadium and captain's the club side.
Has not been at his best this season but the westenders will hope he can rise to the occasion with bat and ball in his second year as skipper.
Cup Match stats
Batting: Seven innings, one not out, 60 runs, high score 26, 10.00 avg.
Bowling: 86 overs, 15 maidens, 369 runs, 18 wickets, 20.5 runs
Janeiro Tucker, 34
Southampton Rangers
Right-hand bat, right-arm medium pace
In their quest for 20 wickets, Somerset have picked a side light on specialist batsmen, meaning more responsibility than ever lies on Tucker's broad shoulders.
If anyone can handle it, he can. The swashbuckling middle-order batsman is in some of the best form of his life for Southampton Rangers.
He's averaging almost 100 in league cricket and can edge closer to catching Charlie Marshall as Cup Match's all-time leading run scorer of he has a good match. The key player for Somerset.
Needs 40 runs to pass Wendell Smith for second all-time in Cup Match.
Cup Match stats
Batting: 21 innings, two not outs, 1,104 runs (third most), high score 186 (first), 58.11 average (first)
Stephen Outerbridge, 26
Bailey's Bay
Left-hand bat, right-arm medium pace
Along with Tucker, he will carry Somerset's middle order. The 26-year-old came of age as an international batsman in the last 12 months and, aside from David Hemp, was Bermuda's best player at the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa.
A classy left-hander who puts a high price on his wicket and can up-the-tempo when required, Outerbridge is fast becoming the finished product. All that is missing from his CV is a Cup Match hundred.
Cup Match stats
Batting: Six innings, 143 runs, high score 54, 23.83 average.
Jekon Edness, 25
Somerset
Wicket-keeper, right-hand bat
He may not have the all-round capabilities of Chris Foggo or Fiqre Crockwell, who replaced him in the national side, but Jekon Edness is widely revered as the best gloveman in Bermuda.
Struggled with the bat for the national team in South Africa but has looked more comfortable at the top of the order for Somerset's club side since returning from University cricket in the U.K. and it would be no surprise to see him open the innings.
Cup Match stats
Batting: Three innings, 48 runs, 25 high score, 16.00 average
Malachi Jones, 20
Southampton Rangers
Right-arm fast, right-hand bat
Along with Tucker and Outerbridge, Jones is one of a trio of players that Somerset need to be at their best if they are to win this match.
The 20-year-old pace bowler will lead the seam attack. And with St. George's picking a team that bats down to ten, he will need to be on top of his game if the holders are to be dismissed twice in two days.
Jones, a genuine quick, who relishes the big occasion should be in his element at Wellington Oval. A swashbuckling 80 in the final trial game also suggests he could play a role with the bat.
Cup Match stats
Batting: Five innings, one not out, 67 runs, 36 not out high score, 16.75 average
Bowling: 57 overs, 16 maidens, 176 runs, 8 wickets, 22.00 average
Deunte Darrell, 16
Willow Cuts
Right-hand bat, right arm medium pace
A break-out season for the .. who has excelled for the Under-19s and for Willow Cuts.
Darrell has dominated the First Division, averaging 60 with the bat and taking 14 wickets at just over 16-a-piece with the ball. He was one of the stand-out players at the Under-19 World Cup qualifiers in Toronto. The only question is if, at 16, he is ready to break out at the higher level.
Cup Match stats
Colt
Dion Stovell, 24
Southampton Rangers
Right-hand bat
Long regarded as one of Bermuda's top batting talents, Stovell has been crashing the runs for Rangers this season.
He has yet to make an impact at Cup Match but there are few who doubt he has the talent to do so.
Likely to bat at number three or as opener.
Cup match stats
Batting: Four innings, 56 runs, 39 high score, 14.00 average
Chris Douglas, 19
St. David's
Left-hand bat, right-arm off-break
Douglas will be expected to play a big part for Somerset this season. He may only be 19 with one Cup Match cap under his belt, but in an extremely young and inexperienced side, he is practically a senior player. He has talent in abundance and can handle the big stage, as he demonstrated with a half-century against the West Indies and a solid Cup Match debut last summer. His part-time off-spinners should be useful.
Cup Match stats
Batting: two innings, 65 runs, 34 high score, 32.50
Dwayne Leverock, 38
Southampton Rangers
Slow left-arm, right hand bat
With a host of young spinners coming through in the west the pressure was on Sluggo to show he was still the top dog at Saturday's trial game.
How did the big man respond? He took three for six in five overs to set any doubts to rest. It has been a few years, though, since Sluggo - Mr Consistency at international level - has had a game-changing influence at the classic.
Cup Match stats
Bowling: 293.3 overs (7th), 71 maidens. 1,143 runs (3rd), 36 wickets, 31.75 average
Joshua Gilbert, 15
Somerset
Right-arm off-break/right hand bat
While Leverock is considered by many to be the master, Gilbert is the apprentice.
One of the youngest ever to play Cup Match, the 15-year-old, has earned his spot.
He's been the star of the national Under-19 side and one of the top wicket takers in the Open Cricket competition for Somerset's club side. He's already shown he can trouble the island's best batsmen, but like his U19 national team mate Darrell, he still has to show he can handle the big stage.
Cup Match stats
Colt
Jordan DeSilva, 19
Somerset
Left-arm fast/medium, left-hand bat
Left-arm quick DeSilva gives the Somerset attack perfect balance - Left-arm seam, two right-arm quicks, a left-arm orthodox spinner, a right arm off-spinner and a host of batsmen who can bowl if required.
The 19-year old hasn't been as deadly this season as he was last year, but his impressive debut in last year's Classic showed he can perform at this level and was probably enough to get him the nod ahead of a host of other young contenders.
Cup Match Stats:
Bowling: 15 overs 1 maiden, 49 runs, 3 wickets, 16.33 avg
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