'Tucker is a man of integrity'

Just because John Tucker is on Somerset’s Cup Match Selection Committee, doesn’t mean his son Janeiro is being given the inside track to resume the captaincy.

This from Alfred Maybury, president of Somerset Cricket Club, who said anyone who knows John Tucker, knows he is a man of integrity.

Maybury said: “We never thought it would even be perceived this way.”

A story in last Friday’s Bermuda Sun had speculated that Janeiro might resume the captaincy because his dad was part of the selection committee as Somerset bids to wrest the Cup away from rivals St George’s.

Maybury said: “If you know John Tucker, you know he’s not one of those people who show favouritism. He deals with the facts and he’s straight up about it.

“John is a past player for Somerset; A past captain of Somerset at Cup Match; He has a wealth of knowledge and experience we’re looking for in our selectors.”

Tucker is part of a five person selection committee, which also include chairwoman Charlotte ‘Molly’ Simons, coach Ricky Hoyte, former Somerset Cup Match player Francis Richardson and whoever the captain will be.

Jekon Edness is the club’s skipper for the domestic season, taking over for Jacobi Robinson.

Maybury stressed that before a new captain was appointed for the club’s league season, it was announced that it did not necessarily mean that person would also be the Cup Match captain.

“We made that very clear to everyone that we were picking a league captain and then we were picking a Cup Match captain. That did not mean the league captain could not be the Cup Match captain, but it also meant that the league captain was not going to be the Cup Match captain.

“We were very clear about that.

“What we are trying to do is give some of these younger players the opportunity to grow and this is an opportunity for that. We are just utilizing our league team for that.

“Jekon has the opportunity to see what it feels like to be the skipper.”

Maybury said with the league season just underway, it is way to early to give a proper assessment of how Edness is doing.

“We’re just three games in” to the season Maybury said.

The club president said whoever ends up skippering the side against St George’s at Wellington, will not have an easy task ahead of them in trying to win the Cup.

“Weather permitting, I’m sure it will be a very exciting game.

“It’s going to take a lot of heart. The players who normally represent Somerset, go and do so with a lot of heart.

“It’s not going to be easy. We’re not going to just walk in St George’s and walk out with it. St George’s are going to work for it and our job is to be up for the challenge and work hard to get it.”