Let the battle begin

Lionel Cann is just one run away from joining an elite group of Cup Match batsmen to have scored 1,000 runs.

The elder statesman of the St George’s changing room — they introduce four colts this year —is keen to bring up the landmark and join Janeiro Tucker, of Somerset, and Charles Marshall and Wendell Smith, of St George’s, as the only players to have achieved it.

He told the Sun: “I never used to think about it but I do now I’m a bit older.

“Everybody remarks about it now — even Somerset people want me to get to 1,000 runs.

“It will be great to join the group of four other players who have done that. It will be an accomplishment.”

For Cann, 40, the other key stat in the game — 32 years since Somerset won in St George’s — is of less importance as he goes about trying to win the Cup back.

 He said: “I don’t go in for home or away. I love playing in Somerset for example — that doesn’t feel like playing away. It’s great for St George’s not to have been beaten in 32 years, although I don’t know why that’s happened. 

“That’s extra motivation for us — some great players have got the job done. It’s an amazing record.”

Cann, who thinks the wicket will be hard to score on, added: “I relish Cup Match. I love playing in front of big crowds — it’s the closest thing to an international match we have.” 

Janeiro ‘Mr Cup Match’ Tucker needs just 88 runs to become its outright all-time leading run-scorer.

The Somerset man continues to be his side’s talisman at the age of 38 — and his appetite for big scores shows no sign of relenting. 

Tucker sits behind only Charles Marshall, who has 1,357 runs to his name, on the legendary list.

Tucker told the Bermuda Sun: “I’m not really thinking about it. I just want to go out and play and win the game and hope it takes care of itself.

“I would be proud. It would be a real milestone to have another record that I didn’t expect to accomplish. Preferably it comes early in the game and I can enjoy the rest of it! People remind me of it every day and tell me what I have to do — but I really don’t want to put any pressure on myself.

“St George’s people probably want it to stay in St George’s but hopefully I can get Somerset up the record books.”

Despite making his debut way back in 1993, Tucker still gets the buzz of Cup Match fever — even if he’s able to take things in his stride a little more now.

He said: “I don’t get as nervous as I used to when I first played. I approach it like any other cricket game. You have to be up for it, though. 

“I still have the adrenaline and rush you get that everybody is there to watch you play and call you out.”