Somerset selectors keep it all in the family
Somerset have made four changes to their Cup Match team for the fourth straight year, with brothers Rodney and Kevin Fubler coming in to bolster the challengers' bowling attack.
Rodney, who at 38 will be the oldest player in the Classic this week, returns to the Somerset team for the first time since 1992 and will share the new ball with Roger Blades.
It promises to be a memorable Cup Match for the Fubler family as Kevin, 33, has won selection as the only colt this year and will be a part of a team also containing nephews Richard and Dexter Basden, the captain -- all from Willow Cuts.
Team: Dexter Basden (capt), Albert Steede (vice capt), Richard Basden, Jeff Richardson, Andre Manders, Roger Blades, Hasan Durham, Rodney Fubler, Shannon Warner, Kevin Fubler (colt), Roger Trott. Res: Reid Jones, Curtis Lee.
Other changes in the team see Roger Trott and former captain Andre Manders return. Trott will keep wicket.
Out from last year are Perry Maybury, Anthony Manders, Olin Jones and Del Hollis.
While the return of Rodney Fubler was expected, the exclusion of Ricky Hill for the second successive year came as a surprise. Kevin Fubler in place of Hollis means that one off-spinner comes in to replace another.
"This year I figured I had been bowling good like I had been in the last four years when I was leading the averages two years in a row,'' said Kevin, who admitted he was encouraged to try for a spot by his nephew, Dexter, just a couple of weeks ago.
Kevin had figures of two for 30 from 13 overs in Saturday's final trial game as the Vice President's team were dismissed for just 119 on their way to a six-wicket thrashing.
"I won't even be going into the game nervous because I've got so much support from the Somerset supporters,'' said Kevin.
Older brother, Rodney, also playing in the President's team, claimed two for 30 from eight overs to seal his spot as he and Roger Blades got the first two wickets with just one run on the board -- including that of Olin Jones whose hopes of being retained were effectively dashed after facing just six deliveries.
"I'm glad to be back,'' said Rodney. "There are four Willow Cuts players in the side and that makes things interesting. I think that will give the skipper a good confidence booster.'' Hill and Andre Hendrickson were the top bats for the Vice President's team, Hill with 29 off 67 balls with four fours and Hendrickson with 31 from 52 balls. Quinton Burch then chipped in with 20 and Del Hollis 15 after they added 24 for the seventh wicket to take the score past 100.
Chris Caisey, the fifth bowler used, cleaned up the tail with four for four from 4.3 overs.
The President's XI reached 121-4 in reply as they, too, had to recover from losing two early wickets -- Dexter Basden for five and vice captain Albert Steede for four. Andre Manders (62 not out) and Roger Trott (18) sealed their recall by sharing in a third-wicket stand of 47.