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From the moment he made his debut as a 21-year-old colt, Lionel Cann has brought energy, confidence and enthusiasm to the St. George's team.

Now a seasoned veteran in his third year as captain, Cann is bidding to keep the cup in the east end for the fourth consecutive year.

On the eve of the game, he talked James Whittaker to us about the importance of Cup Match, his favourite players and why St George's will win this year.

What does it mean to you to be captain?

It's a major thing for me. It's more than just a game of cricket. It represents the freedom of the slaves and as captain you are leading people out of slavery - that's the symbolism of it.

To have already won Cup Match in my first year was extra. Now we have to strive to get even better.

What's the first Cup Match you can remember?

I think I was about nine-years-old down in St. George's. That would have been about 26 years ago now.

I don't remember much about who played. My grandfather took me and I remember the festivities, the different stalls and things like that, but not too much about the game.

Cup Match was a big thing in our family. We'd been playing cricket in St. David's all our lives and Cup Match was the big thing every year.

One of the earliest games I can remember watching was when Ricky Hill was taking on Adrian King. I can't remember what year but King was one of the fastest guys around and Hill really took it to him.

Who were your Cup Match idols growing up?

I used to love Perry Maybury. I would always stand next to him in the dug-out and try to talk to him.

He was a swing bowler like me and I used to love that about him.

Clevie Wade was another one I liked because he was a big-hitter and an all-rounder.

When you are young they can see you are going to be a future player and they would let us stand by the dug-out and talk to them - the same way the youngsters now look up to us and want to be like the current Cup Match players.

What was your Cup Match debut like?

It was 1993. I've played every one since, except for 2000. I was 21 and I'd been topping the averages for a couple of years so it wasn't a big surprise.

I got 46 and 2 for 50. Dean Minors scored 80-something and beat me to MVP but what I'll never forget is hitting my idol Perry Maybury for six on my second ball.

I never was the nervous type. I always carried that little bit of attitude. Perry took it well - he was probably more happy than anybody to see me playing well.

Which Somerset player would you most like to have on your team?

Probably Malachi Jones out of all of them. He's young, he's a talented bowler, he's a threat with the new ball and the old ball, he's an explosive batsman, an aggressive attacking player - just the type I would want in my team.

Which player in your squad do you think will surprise people in Cup Match?

I don't think there's anybody that you would say is a surprise player. Even young Fiqre Crockwell, Jason Anderson and Arthur Pitcher have all shown their worth in the league.

Players like Greg Foggo and Ryan Steede - nobody would be surprised if they got five wickets.

Maybe the young spinner, Tre Govia, will surprise a few people. He's very young but he's mature. He's going to take a few wickets.

Was it a tough choice to pick him ahead of a more experienced bowler like Chick Adams?

I like Chick and I think with Chick and Delyone in the attack Somerset wouldn't have had a glimmer of a chance.

He's bowling even better than he used to right now but the selectors felt it was time to move on. He hasn't played for eight years and the decision was to go with a younger guy.

Tre's got a lot of talent, a lot of potential and I think he'll take wickets.

Are you worried about the age of your team compared to Somerset?

We have the maturity and the experience. They think they have a better fielding team, but I'm not worried about that. It doesn't matter how young you are - if the balls in the gap you can't get it.

It's not a big field and I'm not concerned about the age of my team - a good masseuse and an ice bath on Thursday night and we'll be good as new again on Friday morning.

Who will win and what will be the determining factors?

I think we have got an excellent team and if the boys play to our standards there is no way Somerset can take the cup.

Of course anything can happen in cricket - one big inning can change the game - but if the weather stays good I don't see any reason why we won't win.

I think Delyone Borden is going to be the key player in the match. There's no way that wicket isn't going to turn and no-one turns it bigger than Delyone.

He's going to bowl a lot of overs and take a lot of wickets.

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