Coach Wendell Smith isn’t just looking ahead to the new season with St George’s, he wants to get an earlier start to Cup Match preparations, too.

Starting next week, Smith will be putting all Cup Match hopefuls through six weeks of fitness training with sessions on Wednesday evenings at the Athletic Club starting at 7.30.

“This will be an opportunity for me to identify who’s really expressing interest through participation,” said Smith who is returning this year as head coach of St George’s.

“We’re looking to do things a little differently this year.

“We are encouraging all interested players to come to training sessions every Wednesday evening at the Athletic Club with their fitness attire. I’m also going to encourage players to do some things on their own all season.”

The start of the 2019 season is still at least three weeks away, with the Bermuda Cricket Board still finalising the schedule for the summer.

However, Smith is determined to get an earlier than usual start for Cup Match which will be played at Wellington Oval on August 1 and 2.

“Normally, we do the Cup Match build-up in June and July, but this year we’re going to kick in next week,” Smith revealed. “So instead of two months preparation we’re going to have four months, with work at Wellington Oval in June and July.

“This is an invitation to players as well as those who may not have been involved in the last couple of years.”