There is so much competition for places in the St George’s Cup Match team that the East End club are having three trial games next month.A St George’s team will take on St David’s on July 2 and Cleveland on July 9, before the final trial match between a President’s XI and Vice-President’s XI on July 23.With several players due to miss the last game because they will be representing Bermuda at the ICC Americas tournament in Florida, head coach Clay Smith said the increased number of matches was so everyone had ‘an honest chance of trying to make the final team’.In all, Smith believes that some 20-plus players are realistically vying for the 11 spots, with the likes of Damali Bell, Stefan Kelly, George O’Brien and Kyle Hodsoll all battling for inclusion.“I was sitting down last night and I think we have a good 20 players realistically that are vying for 11 spots come Cup Match so there is loads of competition, it’s just a matter of players producing,” said Smith.“But the funny thing about cricket, you have those players that you look for when it comes to picking the team who are in form at the time. Then you have those players like OJ (Pitcher) and Chris (Douglas) who you know are going to perform on the day, have a history of performing on the day, regardless of what type of form they are in.“So it becomes very ticklish as to selecting your 11 players, it’s about trying to find a balance basically.”The first two games will clash with the second and third rounds of the Western Counties, and Smith said that while players who opt to play in the county matches, such as PHC skipper Jason Anderson, would not have that held against them, it would give the selectors a chance to have a good look at other players.‘Basically this year what we’re trying to do is have three trial games, simply because, the (Bermuda) squad’s leaving to go away and there’s a number of players from St George’s that are going to be with the squad and will miss the final trials,” said Smith.“So these two earlier trials will give us a good opportunity to have a look at some of the guys that are in the squad and give them an honest chance of trying to make the final Cup Match team. It does come down to a players personal choice, but like I said, at the end of the day, we have a surplus of players to choose from. So, if they do choose to play in Western County it wouldn’t be held against them. My main thing to the players is that we will be training every Wednesday in July right up until Cup Match, so if they can’t make the trial game then the commitment to training will be key.”St David’s are expected to play their full league side on July 2, which includes Cup Match quartet OJ Pitcher, Justin Pitcher, Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann.However, Smith said St George’s may try and add the likes of Dennico Hollis and Kyle Hodsoll to their side for a game which will double-up as the annual Turkey Barnes Trophy match.“We were hoping to have access to guys like George (O’Brien), Kevon Fubler, Jason Anderson, Chris Foggo, but we also realise there is a Western County that same day, so these guys may have to miss out,” said Smith.“More than likely they’ll miss a trial game, which will give other guys a chance like Dennico Hollis, Kyle Hodsoll, Ryan Steede. It still gives us a chance to have a look at other players.”While the selectors are likely to have to think long and hard about the batting and bowling selections. Who keeps wicket will be a straight fight between Anderson and Christian Burgess.The current form that Dean Minors is showing might have some people pressing for his inclusion, but Smith said that wasn’t going to happen as the player himself had ‘moved on from Cup Match’.Anderson got the nod last year for the trip to Somerset, but that won’t necessarily be the case this time around.“He’s (Minors) never said that he’s retired from Cup Match, but Dean’s moved on and he’s not looking to come back into Cup Match,” said Smith. “He actually won’t be on the Island come Cup Match, so that wouldn’t even be an option. I think basically it’s going to be a straight shoot-out between Jason Anderson and the youngster Christian Burgess for the wicketkeeping spot down in St George’s.“In my eyes, and I can only speak for myself, being at home does change the way you pick the team. I believe that it is always good to breed a youngster playing at home, so he’s comfortable with his surroundings and familiar with his surroundings. It gives them that much more of an opportunity to be successful, I believe anyway, it’s just a psychological thing.“There is so much competition, even with Damali Bell, Stefan Kelly has expressed his interest in coming back. There is going to be loads of competition.”