Leverock back for Somerset
Kamau Leverock has made himself available for champions Somerset in this year’s Cup Match.
The all-rounder has been in solid form playing for English county side Nottinghamshire in the Second XI Championship since returning from Adelaide, Australia, where he played for Walkerville Cricket Club and West Torrens District Cricket Club in the winter.
Leverock’s previous appearance in Cup Match was at Wellington Oval two years ago when he scored 32 batting in Somerset’s first and only innings. He also took four wickets.
“Kamau is available,” Michael Corday, the chairman of Somerset’s selectors, confirmed. “We had training last night [Thursday] and he looked very impressive with both bat and ball, and looks very fit.”
Two other all-rounders pushing for a place in Somerset’s team are club player and Bermuda Under-19 captain Dalin Richardson and Southampton Rangers’ Deunte Darrell.
Richardson led Bermuda at the ICC Under-19 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier in Toronto last week, stroking 53 and claiming three wickets in the island’s 151-run win over Argentina.
“I was impressed with Dalin and this is not the first time that he has impressed us,” Corday added. “He impressed us in the trial last year. He bats at No 3 for us [in the league] most of the time and he is also a good bowler and fielder.”
Darrell, who recently won the Premier Twenty20 title with Rangers, is seeking to regain his place in Somerset’s team which he vacated after moving overseas in 2016.
The 2010 Cup Match MVP was a strong contender to be recalled last year, but was ruled out after suffering road rash in a bike accident just before Somerset’s final trial.
“Deunte is a talented player, Corday said. “He is a quality three-point man and we know what we are getting from him.”
Somerset have been forced to make at least two changes this year. Jekon Edness, the former captain and wicketkeeper, has retired while his cousin, Tre Manders, has been ruled out after suffering a broken ankle in a road accident last week.
“Jekon is retired and now we’re going to have to replace Tre who we are going to miss,” Corday said. “Tre is invaluable and on the big day always delivers.
“I’m not sure we will skip a beat. We have those type of options available to us.”
Somerset thrashed St George’s by an innings and 34 runs at Somerset last year and are gunning for a second win in the East End in four years.
“The previous result doesn’t really register with us because we know we cannot afford to become complacent,” Corday added.
“That’s history now so we just have to find a way to stay motivated and there is no way our coaching staff will let these guys become complacent.
“There’s no way our skipper [Jordan DeSilva] is going to let them become complacent and there’s no way I am going to let them become complacent.
“Training sessions have been really good and well attended. Nothing has changed and what we’ve been doing for the last few years we continue to do.”
Somerset last won at Wellington Oval in 2015.