Edness to skipper Somerset at Cup Match

FRIDAY, JUNE 24: Jekon Edness will lead Somerset’s charge in this year’s Cup Match classic.

The former Western Stars wicketkeeper replaced Jacobi Robinson as Somerset’s league captain at the beginning of the season and more recently appointed as the club’s Cup Match captain as well.

Alfred Maybury, Somerset Cricket Club president, said: “Jekon has been appointed as Cup Match skipper and I am happy with the decision.

“The selectors made that decision. They made their decision and brought it to the executive and the executive agreed.

“I am certain they had a lot of discussion about Jekon in making their decision and I have no problem with it at all. I think it was an excellent choice.”

Maybury said he has absolutely no doubts that Edness will be equal to the task of leading the Cup Match challengers from the front.

“We are all about progressing and allowing young fellows to take the lead. And this is his opportunity to take the lead.”

Edness is the second cricketer in his family behind uncle Andre Manders to captain Somerset in Cup Match.

But unlike his uncle, who made his debut as captain in Somerset, Edness will direct the troops on foreign turf.

Maybury added: “His first captaincy will be away from home  but he will have the support.”

Advice

Even though the Bermuda international will go to St. George’s raw on experience as a captain, one luxury he will have at his disposal is having senior players such as Janeiro Tucker around to seek advice from during the heat of battle.

Maybury said: “I expect that he will have a great supporting cast. He also has the support of the management and the executive.”

Somerset lost the coveted cup in a heated and controversial affair at Wellington Oval in 2005.

But Maybury feels the eventual team Somerset will select will be capable of reclaiming the showpiece this year.

“We are only going St George’s for one reason; to play the game hard and fair in search of victory.

“There’s no sense going St George’s to play for a draw. We are going in with all emphasis on winning.

“The public don’t want to come to Somerset or St George’s to see a draw, they want to see a victory.

“No matter who wins they want to see a victory, but I’m going for Somerset to win.”

Edness, whose father Anthony Manders also kept wicket for Somerset in Cup Match, is gagged from speaking to media due to club policy.

Damali Bell

Meanwhile, at the opposite end of the island Damali Bell is now likely to be a part of St George’s’ Cup Match preparations.

The promising Cleveland County player has returned earlier than previously expected from a training stint in the UK at Kent Cricket Academy.

During his brief stay in England the teenaged left-arm seamer made several appearances for Kent League side St. Lawrence.