Newly installed Somerset Cup Match captain Terryn Fray has warned his team not to be complacent in the Annual Classic on home turf on August 1 and 2.

Fray was officially announced as Jordan DeSilva’s successor this week and is aware of the high expectations placed on his side as the champions face a St George’s side that he feels have steadily improved in recent years.

“This is a very important year for both teams,” Fray told The Royal Gazette.

“Obviously the club have changed their captain after winning it so many years and St George’s have a really strong league side that are getting better and better every year, so going into my first year I just want to make sure that we check all of the boxes and really hit home most of the basic stuff.

“Sometimes as players and as teams we can get complacent with winning but it's important that we remain humble as a unit and we nip out any complacency that there might be because as we all know cricket is played on the day, and it doesn't matter who is playing on paper.

“It doesn't matter if you're coming off a hundred or if you've got a five-wicket haul the game before. Every day is a new day and you have to approach it like that, so it's a challenge.”

The Bailey’s Bay captain also concedes it will be a challenge leading the players surrounding him and serving on the selection committee for the first time.

“It’s going to be a challenge for myself captaining this bunch of specific players for the first time and even with selection to be in that position to possibly make one or two changes to the team, who knows,” Fray added.

“It’s good pressure, but it is pressure. I am looking forward to it and have the support from a lot of people and just excited that I can make my family happy and represent them to the best of my ability.

“It’s a great feeling to represent my fans and my family and also Bailey's Bay as the captain in Cup Match first and foremost. It’s such a big part of Bermuda's history and sporting history, so it’s definitely an honour to lead Somerset Cricket Club in this year's Cup Match classic.”

Fray, who has served as Somerset vice-captain for a number of years, has made a seamless transition into his new role.

“It didn’t come as a surprise because it had been talked about since last year when Jordan had agreed to step down, so I really thought it was a possibility that it was going to be me,” he said.

“It really wasn’t a secret from a Somerset Cricket Club point of view. A lot of people within the club knew for a while now, so the transition has been pretty smooth. There have been no real hiccups along the way

“It has been a smooth transition and I have the support of the executive committee, the coaches and the players.”

Outgoing Somerset coach and former player Jeff Richardson described Fray’s appointment as the logical choice.

“He has been deputising for Jordan for the better part of my tenure, so it was just natural progression that he take over the captaincy,” he said.

“Typically the captain would come from Somerset Cricket Club, but we don’t have anybody in our team that has the experience to carry the team through the classic, so that was a no-brainer.”

Richardson believes the timing of the change in leadership is ideal as Fray will make his debut as a captain in a friendly setting.

“It’s always nice for changes to take place while you are at home, where you are comfortable and where we define and determine the conditions,” he added.

“I think this works to the advantage of Terryn, who is going to benefit from the fact that he’s at home.”

Fray is the first Bailey’s Bay player to captain Somerset in Cup Match.

“This conversation came up last week and I have to actually check for myself and confirm,” Fray said.

“But some of the older players did make mention of it, so if that is the case then again I am grateful.

“It is something to be proud of and something for Bailey's Bay to be proud of, and not just as club but as a community, so I am just wishing for the best.”