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St. George's colt Landro Minors said his family and friends had persuaded him to resist overtures from Somerset and stay in the east end.

The left-hander will make his Cup Match debut in the blue and blue of St George's on Thursday after a week-long struggle for his signature ended with his appearance at the final trial game at Wellington Oval and subsequent selection in the holders XI.

"It was a really tough decision," said 25-year-old Minors yesterday.

"I was getting all these offers from up Somerset and that played with my mind a little bit but at the end of the day I just stayed with where I am from and where my family is from."

Minors, whose cousins are St. George's stalwarts Wendell and Clay Smith - two of the four batsmen in Cup Match history to have passed 1,000 runs, said he had been inundated with calls persuading him to play for the east enders.

"That was a big factor. I always lived in the east. My mother is from St. David's and my father is from St. George's. My great grandpa played for St. George's too - way before my time.

"I'm still taking flak from Somerset players and fans but I can handle it."

Minors plays for St. David's in league cricket and came through the ranks with the likes of Delyone Borden and Justin Pitcher who he will line up alongside on Thursday.

St. George's skipper Lionel Cann added: "I think Landro's made the right choice. He's going to have a big future at St. George's.

"Someone at Somerset was on the ball and I think they probably guaranteed him a spot if he went up there but at the end of the day when he had time to think about it he wanted to stay with his ace boys."

Somerset captain Jacobi Robinson who had openly indicated that he wanted Minors in his team, took Minors' decision on the chin.

"He's decided to go with his heart and I would never knock a man for going with his heart," said Robinson.

The selection sideshow has raised Minors' profile and put a little extra pressure on him going into the game.

But he insists it's nothing he can't deal with.

And his strategy for the match is simple.

"Just don't get out".

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