St George's rang in the changes last night, dropping six players from last year's Cup Match team as they brought in two colts and recalled four others.

The St George's selectors deliberated for more than three hours before announcing the team to the club members. Shannon Rayner, a solid middle-order batsman who plays for Southampton Rangers, and Delray Rawlins, a 16-year-old left-arm spinner, have been named as colts, while wicketkeeper Jason Anderson, Fiqre Crockwell, George O'Brien and Kyle Hodsoll have been recalled.

Failing to convince the selectors that they had done enough to warrant selection were Christian Burgess, Onias Bascome and Zeko Burgess — all colts last year — while Justin Pitcher and Allan Douglas Jr, somewhat surprisingly after his five-wicket haul in yesterday's rain-hit final trial match, were also dropped. Treadwell Gibbons Jr has been out of favour since last year's antics at Wellington Oval after being controversially given out and was not selected for the trials.

A visibly exhausted Charlie Marshall, the St George's chairman of the selectors, described the selection process as the toughest he has been involved in as a captain or selector. “This was 3½ hours and a lot of negotiating from each of the selectors, who gave their concerns, which I respected,” Marshall said. “It was just a difficult night and what made it more difficult is the fact that a lot of our players haven't been doing well with the bat or the ball.

“We just had to do the best we could when it came to picking the team.”

Up in the west end, Somerset made two changes, one of which was expected with Kamau Leverock, the all-rounder not returning to the Island because of his commitment with MCC Young Cricketers. His place went to club player Jordan DeSilva, who made a half-century in the final trial yesterday.

The other change had been speculated upon, with Stephen Outerbridge, the former Bermuda captain and early-order batsman, dropped in favour of all-rounder Deunte Darrell. The Willow Cuts player virtually cemented his place in the squad with a polished 53 for the Vice-President XI in the final trial.

Outerbridge lost his place despite stroking an unbeaten 38 for the Vice President's XI, who were 205 for two at stumps, with Chris Douglas and Pierre Smith having been retired out with fifties, in reply to the President XI's 261 for seven declared at stumps.

Somerset's team was announced to the general membership at midnight after nearly three hours of deliberations.

“We have a really balanced team in terms of players that can bowl, bat and field,” Michael Corday, the Somerset chairman of selectors, said. “If you look at the team, we can call on anybody.”