George O’Brien’s Cup Match career appears to be over after he was not selected by St George’s to take part in the final trial on Saturday.

The decision means there will be at least three changes to last year’s team as they attempt to regain the trophy at Wellington Oval, with OJ Pitcher ruled out through injury and Jordan Burgess, who was a colt last year, unavailable through school commitments abroad.

“There are going to be three changes to the team this year that have been forced upon us,” Clay Smith, the St George’s coach, told The Royal Gazette.

“George is probably the most notable one because he’s been a thorn in Somerset’s side for years having taken numerous wickets over the last decade, but the selectors got together and felt that his time is up and he has done his service for St George’s.

“He is obviously not the same bowler that he has been over the last couple of years with his knee injuries, so we just want to thank George for his services with St George’s Cricket Club.”

With senior pair Pitcher and O’Brien out of the equation, St George’s have shifted their emphasis to rebuilding their squad as they head into the trial match on Saturday.

“We are just looking towards the youth, basically moving forward,” Smith added.

“We have to move forward with another plan as to how we can wrestle this cup back and we needed some youthful enthusiasm and some youngsters that are going to bring some energy to us and develop as they go along.”

Smith also described the unavailability of Burgess and Pitcher as major setbacks.

“Jordan being out in school is another big blow,” he said. “He is someone that came in and somebody that we are looking for long-term, but that’s understandable and I have encouraged him to continue to study and wished him the best of luck where that is concerned.

“OJ has also been forced upon us, so that’s three changes that we definitely have to make going into the final trial, which will be a game with two very good teams.

“We’re going to play 13 against 13, where the bowlers bowl and the batsmen bat. Unfortunately, we have to do this so we can have a look at as many players as possible because we have not been able to have any trial matches prior to this final trial for various reasons, but we are going to make the most of it and we just encourage everybody to go in and put their best foot forward and pick themselves.

“I always tell players the one trial you want to perform in is the final trial. Obviously, what they have done throughout the year will go a long way towards their selection, but we just want to encourage all of the players to give their all and leave it on the field basically.

“At the end of the night we can only pick 11 and I can promise you it’s going to be very difficult to pick this XI. The selectors have a very tough job on their hands.”

Somerset were selecting their trial squads last night but they were unavailable for publication at time of press.