St George’s are clinging to hope Cup Match prospect Sharye Tavares will take part in their trial match at Wellington Oval today as they had originally planned.

The Bailey’s Bay all-rounder initially trained with the East Enders before having a change of heart and opting to try his luck at champions Somerset instead.

Tavares, the son of St George’s legend Noel Gibbons, was named in the President’s XI for St George’s on Wednesday night but will instead turn out for Somerset’s Vice-President’s XI, who will be led by his club captain, Terryn Fray.

“I am going to play for Somerset on Saturday,” Tavares told The Royal Gazette.

However, St George’s coach Clay Smith remains hopeful the player reconsiders his decision and follows in his father’s footsteps at the club.

“We still hope to see him at the final trial but we want players who are not passionate about just playing Cup Match, but passionate about playing Cup Match for St George’s, so time will tell,” he said.

The former star St George’s batter and captain has high expectations for Tavares, who has made an impact with bat and ball for a Bay side who are unbeaten in all competitions this season.

“We reached out to him early because he caught our eye and he has been down St George’s at least two or three training sessions,” Smith added.

As for the player’s decision to switch allegiances on the eve of the final trial, Smith said: “He wouldn’t be the first or the last to be selected for both teams. He has to go where he is comfortable.”

Tavares trained with Somerset this week and was ultimately chosen to play in their Cup Match trial and Colts Cup Match team against St George’s at Wellington Oval tomorrow.

“I had caught wind that he had been training in St George’s, but he trained with Somerset on Wednesday night and he’s been put in Somerset’s Colts Cup Match team and is also part of the trial match,” Jeff Richardson, the Somerset head coach, said.

“If he shows up to play Cup Match trial for Somerset then he will get his fair chance to prove himself.

“The bowlers will get their chance to bowl, the batters will get a chance to bat and he will get his fair share.”

St George’s have been forced to make at least three changes to last year’s team, with Tavares among the leading contenders to fill the voids left by the unavailability of OJ Pitcher, George O’Brien Jr and Jordan Burgess before jumping ship.

Pitcher has been ruled out through a fractured rib, O’Brien was dropped while Burgess, who made his debut as a colt last year, is studying overseas.

Among those attempting to force their way into St George’s team this year is Western Stars all-rounder Brian Hall, who has taken more than 30 wickets and averaging nearly 50 with seven not outs batting in the middle order this season.

Hall has long harboured an ambition to play in Cup Match and is determined to put his best foot forward playing for the Vice-President’s XI in the hopes of securing a spot this year.

“Everyone knows what the deal is and it’s all about execution in the trial match,” he said. “You want to execute your shots and show what you can do.

“If I get picked for Cup Match, I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, so I am going to be more focused than anything.

“Fingers crossed I get picked because I want to try and help St George’s do what they have to do to wrestle this cup back from Somerset.”

Somerset’s trial match will feature all 11 players who thrashed St George’s by ten wickets for the second successive year in 2022.

Among those seeking to break into the holder’s team are Western Stars batter Jaiden Manders, Somerset all-rounder Dominic Sabir and Bay seamer Macquille Walker, with Kwasi James and Steven Bremar Jr seeking recalls.