Champions Somerset will be forced to make at least one change to their squad for their upcoming Cup Match defence as star opening batsman Chris Douglas has been ruled out through suspension.

The experienced player has been banned for showing serious dissent towards an umpire after being given out leg-before during Somerset’s Knockout Cup semi-final defeat by Bailey’s Bay at White Hill Field on July 2.

Douglas, the 2021 Cup Match MVP, has been banned for four T20 matches, with the last of those games not scheduled to be completed until after Cup Match.

“According to the communication from the Bermuda Cricket Board, Chris is only eligible to play again on August 20, when we complete four T20 matches,” Jeff Richardson, the Somerset coach, said.

“The ruling doesn’t apply to Cup Match or counties but we are still governed by the Bermuda Cricket Board, so we have to honour the fact that he has been suspended.”

It remains to be seen whether St David’s will follow Somerset’s lead, as Douglas plays for them as a guest player in the Eastern Counties. The club are set to play champions Bay in the opening round at Sea Breeze Oval on Saturday.

Ricky Brangman, the St David’s coach, was unavailable for comment at the time of press.

Richardson will have to find a suitable replacement at the top of the batting order for Douglas, who is also a useful off spinner. Potential replacements could include Western Stars left-hander Jaiden Manders.

Ras Solomon Burrows could be an option as he works his way back from injury as could Southampton Rangers captain Dalin Richardson, while if Somerset want to look internally, options could include club players Matty Watson or JD Albertze.

Potential moves could also include sacrificing Tre Manders as an opener, moving the top order up one and slotting Dominic Sabir into the all-rounder spot.

“I haven’t even thought that far ahead, to be fair, and I think it will be unfair for me to be naming anyone in particular,” Richardson said.

“This is obviously something we will have to deal with and we will deal with it the best way we possibly can. No disrespect to Chris, but no one person is bigger than the match.”

As for the player’s actions that led to his suspension, Richardson said: “I am a little disappointed with the whole situation because I didn’t think it was necessary.

“It’s something that I am going to have to deal with but also not something that I condone, so we are going to have to deal with it the best way we can.”

Somerset have dominated the Annual Classic in recent times with Douglas’s partnership at the top of the order with Terryn Fray, which included his maiden century in 2021, the centrepiece of their ten-wicket wins in the last two years.

Douglas’s suspension aside, Richardson is encouraged by his team’s preparations for their title defence at Wellington Oval on August 3 and 4, although training has been compromised as a result of commitments at the national level.

“Both clubs have been impacted by the fact squad players have been required to train with the national team two or three nights a week, which means it’s difficult for them to attend Cup Match training,” he said.

“The national coach [Niraj Odedra] has recently released the players for Wednesday evenings, so we are now starting to see a pick-up in attendance from our national team players, and so that is going as well as can be expected.”

Somerset have already savoured success this season after clinching the BCB First Division 50 Overs title and claiming promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.

“We always knew that our team was far too good to be down in the First Division,” he said.

“The task at hand was to go through the season [50 Overs] undefeated and we accomplished that and hopefully we can go from strength to strength.

“We have always felt that we can compete in the Premier Division and I think that we have showed that the couple of times we have played Bailey’s Bay. They are the 50 Overs champions and undefeated, and we’ve taken them to the wire each time so I am encouraged.

“I think I have a stronger squad of players and numbers now. Last season we struggled getting 11 players but now we are getting 14 to 15 at a time available for matches, so we are not playing short any more. We are able to put out a full team — and a strong team at that.”