'The game comes first'

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27: Personal glory will take a back seat for Somerset’s ‘Mr Cup Match’ Janeiro Tucker as he attempts to dethrone the champions in their own backyard.

Tucker is on the brink of breaking Charlie Marshall’s all-time record as the classic’s top run scorer. But he said victory for Somerset was far more important.

“I’m not really setting myself up for the record. I’ll go out there and play and if it happens it happens. If not I will have to deal with it another year.

“The game situation comes first. We’ve got to think more of the win than of personal glory.

“You always set yourself goals and look to get to the next milestone.

“Hopefully, when I finish playing, I will have the record but the priority is to get the win for Somerset.”

Tucker believes the selectors have picked a team that can win at Wellington Oval for the first time in 30 years.

But he admits it will be up to the challengers to set the pace.

“I think Somerset has a good chance. We have to push it a little harder than St George’s. We have to do a good bit of attacking.

“They have the trophy they have no reason to force the issue.

“We have to take the initiative and be more aggressive than them.”

He said the Somerset team was packed with exciting youngsters.

Colts Kamau Leverock, 16, and Terryn Fray, 20, join Deunte Darrell, 18 and Joshua Gilbert, 17 in a side high on promise but short on experience.

But Tucker has backed the youngsters to rise to the occasion.

“They know what they have got to do and I think they will go out there and do it,” he added.