St. David's to compete in 2011 Eastern Counties series

TUESDAY, JUNE 21: St. David’s County Cricket Club will take part in this summer’s Eastern Counties competition.

Club sources tonight confirmed that the Islanders have decided to resume playing in the competition, thus bringing an end to growing speculation that the reigning Twenty/20 champions could boycott the series for a second straight year.

Then champions St. David’s relinquished their crown and boycotted last year’s series in protest over a number of differences with the Eastern Counties Cricket Association (ECCA).

Cleveland County was subsequently declared the cup holder in the Islanders' absence.

At a recent club meeting the St. David’s membership voted against a proposal to stage this summer’s series at Lords.

This in turn has led to speculation that the popular mid-summer competition could be held at Sea Breeze Oval for a third straight year.

“There is a hypothetical chance Bailey’s Bay can be called upon to host the counties series,” ECCA president Harold Millett told the Bermuda Sun.

Meanwhile the Bermuda Sun can reveal that the St. David’s appeal against making a formal apology to the ECCA for bringing the game into disrepute has fallen on death ears.

However, they did have a sanction that would have seen them fined 15 percent of their share of revenue from this summer’s series quashed.

The first round of the Eastern Counties is scheduled for July 17, with cup holders Cleveland County taking on potential hosts Bailey’s Bay.

St. David’s have been drawn in the final round to take place August 27.