Michael Corday, the Somerset cricket chairman, is adamant the Cup Match champions have chosen a team capable of defending their title in hostile territory this year.

The west enders have retained all but two members from last year’s team that annihilated rivals St George’s by ten wickets for the second straight year in front of their own fans at Somerset Cricket Club.

“I think it’s a good-balanced team,” Corday told The Royal Gazette.

“The changes were pretty much based on performance in the trial match, and that’s the team that the selectors feel both physically and mentally is our best option going into St George’s.

“Going into St George’s, the selectors have a certain mindset in terms of having a mentally strong team, and not just a physically strong team or a capable team in terms of technique, but a mentally strong team because you’re going down there it can be difficult.

“That’s the team we feel is the best going into St George’s and it’s that simple really.”

Seamer Macquille Walker and wicketkeeper Steven Bremar are the two changes to the holder’s team after they were drafted in for Greg Maybury and Khiry Furbert.

Bailey’s Bay player Walker claimed two for 24 from 12 overs and sent down five maidens to get the nod over Somerset stalwart Maybury.

“Macquille’s form speaks for itself and he had a really good trial with the ball today,” Corday added.

“The selectors debated and discussed that a lot because Greg has given us such good service and that was a difficult one.”

Walker, 24, is now poised to make his debut in the two-day Classic as a colt on Thursday.

Recalled Cleveland County wicketkeeper Bremar also impressed during the trial match as he took two catches behind the stumps and stroked 23 in the middle order to get the nod over Western Stars counterpart Furbert, who made his Cup Match debut last year.

“Physically, mentally and performance-wise today the selectors thought that Steven was the best out of the wicketkeepers,” Corday said.

“Both physically and mentally the selectors thought that Steven would complete the balance of the team going to St George’s.

“He is batting decent and his keeping is good, which was the selector’s general consensus, and that’s who they went with.”

Also impressing were early-order batters Alex Dore (57), Jaiden Manders (44) and seamer Jermal Proctor (two for 19) who gave the selectors plenty to think about before ultimately being overlooked.

“They definitely caused us some debate and we debated over quite a few guys,” Corday added.

“We have some good problems and had debate about young Proctor and debate about Alex because he really looked in good nick with the bat, and Jaiden has been magnificent for a couple of seasons now.

“Last year Jaiden made a hundred (107) in Colts Cup Match and in training he looked really good. Today in the trial match looked good.”

Somerset will again be led by captain Jordan DeSilva, who along with Chris Douglas, Terryn Fray, Tre Manders, Alje Richardson, Dion Stovell, Kamau Leverock, Malachi Jones and Derrick Brangman are the surviving members from last year.

Cleveland all-rounder Stovell stamped his authority in Somerset’s emphatic victory last year as he stroked a maiden hundred (111 not out) and claimed match figures of six for 101 to earn the man-of-the-match award.

Jaiden Manders, Dore and Dominic Sabir, last year’s Safe Hands Award recipient, have been named as reserves.

Among those missing out were Bay all-rounder Shayre Tavares, who initially trained with St George’s before having a change of heart and opting to try his luck at Somerset instead.