year, the consensus is that the make-up of the Somerset team chosen on Saturday night still does not have the necessary bowling depth to pull off a victory at Wellington Oval on Thursday and Friday.

Although they have chosen a quality leg-break spinner in left-arm colt Wayne Richardson, the west-enders failed to made a decisive attempt to beef up their attack by adding some hostile bowling to assist them in a bid of dismissing the cup-holders twice.

Their selection, which includes three colts, again appears to be top-heavy in batting like it was a year ago when they named nine specialist batsmen. This time batting is again of considerable depth.

The team is as follows: Perry Maybury (captain), Albert Steede (vice-captain), Ricky Hill, Olin Jones, Richard Basden, Jeff Richardson, Dexter Basden, Andre Manders, Anthony Manders (colt), Wayne Richardson (colt), Allan Brangman (colt). Reserves: Janeiro Tucker, Charles Swan.

Missing from a year ago are Anthony Amory, Rodney Fubler, Terry Burgess and the Bermuda youth team skipper Janeiro Tucker while in are the three colts and skipper Perry Maybury.

Kevin Saunders defended Somerset's choices but the chairman of the selection committee revealed that it was a problem in deciding what bowlers to name.

"It was a pretty normal meeting with the only real discussion concerning the bowling, both the medium-pacers and spin. Otherwise it was a pretty normal night for us,'' said Saunders.

In backing his committee for not naming a more penetrative bowling attack, Saunders pointed out that with a quality spinner like Richardson the attack still contains more variety than a year ago.

"We did not have a quality spinner at all last year, this time we have that in Richardson. With him, skipper Maybury and Allan Brangman we have bowlers who can give us long spells,'' he said.

"Overall we have a strong team, one capable of winning. The bowling is good and the batting is pretty sound.'' The committee took just under two hours to pick the team, completing the job by 9.15 p.m. after starting the meeting at 7.30 p.m.

Saunders conceded that the team was well accepted by management and the members and nobody really upset with any omissions.

When questioned about the dropping of Janeiro Tucker, Saunders said that it was a difficult decision but reckoned that he expected the youngster to bounce back and appear again in the future.

"I don't think Janeiro will be discouraged by being left out. He is a young player and with youth on his side he will be back, I'm pretty sure,'' said the chairman.

Tucker had a rough day on Saturday during the final trial when he scored just one run and then was hit hard while bowling, finishing with none for 42 off just six overs.

Colts Brangman and Richardson enhanced their chances with good performances in the final trial on Saturday, Brangman taking four for 45 and Richardson two for 39 for the Vice-President's XI. The third colt, Manders, picked himself as he was the only front-line wicket-keeper involved in the crucial trial and he did not hurt himself with a solid 31 for the President's XI.

"With Allan coming in to fit the scenario we had to make space,'' said club president Erwin Bean, another member of the selection committee that also included secretary Reginald Pearman, Winston Reid, Saunders and skipper Maybury. "We were not really that pleased with the pace bowlers and don't think the St. George's wicket is going to be conducive to pace.

The inclusion of Maybury was expected although many fans watching the final trial wondered whether he had fully overcome injury to the degree that confidence should be placed in him to share the new ball with Brangman.

The general feeling was that another pace bowler, either one of last year's opening duo of Terry Burgess and Rodney Fubler, should have been included at the expense of one of the batsmen -- Jeff Richardson, Olin Jones or Andre Manders.

"Bermuda doesn't really have any genuine pace bowlers,'' added Bean. "Terry doesn't seem to have have the staying power ... he's not the Terry of old.

"Also there is the time frame. Last year we were struggling to get 12 overs in per hour having the pacers.'' Burgess took two for 38 and Fubler one for 36 for the President's XI with performances that were reasonable, while Charles Swan did remarkably well by taking four for 44 -- but his heroics only landed him a reserve place.

The final trial game saw Ricky Hill's high score of 40 combined with fine knocks by Andre Manders (32), Olin Jones (31), Anthony Manders (31) and skipper Maybury (24) helped the President's XI to 224 off 59 overs.

Richard Basden stroked 55 while veteran Roger Hunt hit 21 for the Vice-President's XI who replied with 181 for seven.

ALLAN BRANGMAN. BROTHERS IN ARMS -- Somerset stalwart Andre Manders, centre, will be joined in this year's classic by brother Anthony.