Cup Match champions St.George?s Cricket Club have also embraced the winds of change by including five new additions to their team this year, among them three colts in Rodney Trott, Oronde Bascome and Arthur Pitcher jr and two recalls in all-rounder OJ Pitcher and top wicketkeeper/batsman Dean Minors.

Omitted after hours of deliberation by the selection committee were seamers Stefan Kelly, Ryan Steede and Herbie Bascome and Chris Foggo who many had predicted would be included in the team this year solely as a batsman.

The East Enders retained Charlie Marshall ? the classic?s all time leading run-getter and most senior player ? while national team skipper Clay Smith has convinced the club?s selectors that he is fit enough to play in the 105th edition of the annual mid-summer classic.

?We had so many players to choose from and we can?t pick them all,? stated St.George?s Cricket Club president Neil Paynter. ?But in the end I support whatever team is selected.

?I thought we had a great pool of players to choose from, but at the end of the day we had to find the right chemistry and I feel that our team is balanced and capable of completing the job that is required.?

St.George?s Cup Match chairman of selectors Ritchie Foggo agreed.

?Not only am I confident this team will bring back the goods . . . but I expect them to be back (in St.George?s) by 4p.m. on Friday,? he boldly declared.

As for this year?s omission of Foggo, the St.George?s official explained: ?Whenever you are dropping someone it?s always difficult. But we have batsmen going all the way through in this team, and even George (O?Brien) can be useful.?

Paynter also admitted he was disappointed to see the axe fall upon last year?s Cup Match MVP.

?I am a bit disappointed to see Chris go especially based on last year?s performance,? he said.

Foggo scored 59 valuable runs to help St.George?s to a narrow 27-run victory at Wellington Oval last year, an innings that earned him the coveted award.

?I am also very saddened not to see Herbie in the team,? Paynter continued. ?But Herbie has served us well and we appreciate all of the service he continues to give to us both on and off the field.

?And as far as Stefan Kelly is concerned, again it?s unfortunate we couldn?t choose everyone. But I?m certain Stefan has a great future with St.George?s Cricket Club.?

As anticipated the St.George?s selectors deliberated well into the night in search for what they believe is the right combination capable of defending the cup at Somerset on Thursday and Friday.

And the additions of colts Oronde Bascome, Trott and Arthur Pitcher might have surprised few.

?Overall, I think all three colts are deserving of their place,? Paynter said. ?I thought Oronde earned his place and batted well in the final trial and I am also happy to see Trott make the team because he and Oronde definitely have the potential to be great Cup Match players.

?I was also hoping Arthur made the team because he too deserves to be in our team and we already know what OJ can do. Hopefully he can go out there and prove the selectors correct.

?Dean is also a very good player and we know he can get the job done and we wish him all the best.?

Foggo said all in all, everybody was pleased with the team?s composition.

?Everyone was very happy with the colts we chose,? he said. ?And on the whole seemed pretty satisfied with the team.

?Oronde was an easy choice and we actually had to call him in because we felt he had done enough work at the crease for any critic that felt he wasn?t a good bet. He batted really well today.

?Minors was also a favourable choice and everybody seemed happy with OJ because he has had a pretty good season.

?However, Stefan was a very difficult decision and in the end we decided to go with George (O?Brien) because Somerset are scared of him.?

As for Smith?s health, Foggo stated: ?There were a few discussions concerning that issue, but in the end we are all convinced he will be able to stand up for two days.?

Trott and fellow Under-19 national squad team-mate Bascome were among a handful of players that impressed during Saturday?s low-scoring final trial that concluded before 4 p.m. with curious onlookers still billowing through the gates.

If there were any concerns as to Bascome?s ability to rise to the big occasion, then those quickly evaporated with every hook, drive and thrust off the youngster?s bat as he raced to a boundary-littered half century (51) before being called in by skipper Charlie Marshall.

Earlier, it was Trott who basked in the limelight and had the President?s XI in a pickle, spinning his way to impressive figures of three for 27 off seven overs.

Trott snapped up the prized wickets of St.George?s skipper Lionel Cann (25) and Arthur Pitcher (11) at a time when the opposition were staging a middle order fightback after sliding from 38 without loss to 55 for five.

The Bailey?s Bay off spinner also took a sharp catch at cover point to dismiss Chris Foggo (24) who at the time was well on top of the bowling on a pitch offering variable bounce.

Minors (16) took little time settling in comfortably at the crease and finding the gaps with some piercing strokeplay on the front foot.

However, his innings was cut short in its infancy as he half-heartily cut at a widish delivery on the back foot and was easily caught in the covers.

Having contributed to the President?s XI?s total from the rear, Arthur Pitcher sealed his spot in Cup Match by trapping Keith Wainwright (two) leg before.

St.David?s team-mate OJ Pitcher, dropped last year for the second time, claimed one for 22 off four overs of seam and then hit an unbeaten 16 runs, after racing off the mark with three consecutive fours off George O?Brien, running off five paces during his second spell.