Dominic Sabir and Jermal Proctor are two cricketers with a matching goal, to make it into  Somerset’s Cup Match team and leave memorable marks upon the midsummer classic.

Indicators are that Somerset, a supreme but ageing outfit, will take the opportunity this year to make two or three changes, preferring to blood their young talent at home. Sabir and Proctor stand on the cusp, keen to make the grade.

Jordan DeSilva’s surrendering of the captain’s role appears to have opened up a spot in the middle of the batting order, while the questionable match fitness of incumbent fast bowler Macquille Walker may allow Proctor to get the nod as a member of the champions’ pace attack.

At just 21, Sabir operates as the quintessential big brother, more experienced and protective even as he encourages his more youthful buddy into the fray.

Six-foot plus and a muscular giant with intimidating, raw power to match, Sabir inspires fear in bowlers based on his ability to launch balls beyond the boundaries of the largest grounds.

Yet the physique also masks a cerebral player able to forsake brawn for finesse in the effort to unearth foes. An improved off-break bowler, Sabir has gained respect for his guile and aptitude to contain opposition advances and induce batters into making mistakes.

Already with 14 T20 internationals and a similar number of List A matches on his cricketing resume, Sabir is anxious to add Cup Match to his growing list of accomplishments.

“I’m hopeful of getting in this year,” said Sabir at the end of a recent training session.

“I’ve been working hard. I went back to university in October, got fit, dropped about 30lb last year, got fit, so I’m quicker, more agile and I’m just hoping to get in.

“I’ve been doing everything I need and have been asked to do with my club team. I could be a bit more consistent, but with cricket every day is not a scoring day, so I look to contribute in other ways when I don’t go big with the bat.

“When I was at Warwick I was primarily a batsman and I bowled a lot of medium seam, but after talking to my pops and my coaches I realised there were not that many off spinners coming through within Bermuda’s national team or at club level and my club, so I chose to master that.

“In going to India, for the warm-up to ICC Cricket World Challenge League Play-off,, I was able to work with a coach and Janeiro [Tucker] and they were able to show me a few things. Since then my bowling has come a long way, complimenting my batting and making me more of a genuine all-rounder.”

Sabir’s athleticism in the field has already earned him reserve status in past Cup Matches and he won the 2022 Calvin “Bummy” Symonds Safe Hands Award based on a spectacular diving catch to dismiss Sinclair Smith in the game’s second innings

His physical literacy is of no surprise. As the son of former high-school track speedster and top-flight footballer Chris Sabir and grandson to Aaron Sabir, once a standout three-sport athlete, Sabir the younger hit the genetic jackpot. Add to that a keen intelligence inherited from his mother Fiona Ross, a doctor, and Sabir is thoughtfully well-rounded on and off the pitch.

However, with such lineage come grand expectations, with Cup Match being one item for Sabir to check off his list.

Proctor is the great, great grandson of former Somerset captain Nathaniel Proctor. His game is perhaps a bit less refined than Sabir’s, yet he punches well above his weight.

Born and raised a stone’s throw from his home club, Proctor opened eyes to his vast potential during a 2019 Somerset trial match, wreaking havoc upon the  Vice-President’s XI led by Terryn Fray, who was recently named as this year’s captain.

Originally named as a reserve for the match, Proctor, in a lethal eight-over burst, returned figures of four for 20.

This year the now 18-year-old made his senior international debut in Kuala Lumpur against Tanzania, taking three for 54 and following up with appearances against Vanuatu and Bahrain.

“I just have to keep performing, putting the work in and let the numbers do the talking,” said Proctor, who is tenth among batters in the Premier Division 50 overs with 233 runs scored in seven games. He has also taken 12 wickets.

“I just want to put my best foot forward in the next couple of weeks and go as hard as possible, making it difficult for the selectors to leave me out of the side.”

Initially pegged as a specialist fast bowler, Proctor’s statistics are indicative of a genuine all-rounder, with the youngster often used to open both bowling and batting.

“I’ve been working on trying to get that all-rounder status,” said Proctor, whose repertoire no longer relies merely upon speed as he has added cutters and a deceptive slower ball released from the back of the hand.

“I had hoped to open the batting this season and I got my wish, so I’m really happy with how this year has worked out so far.”

Toughness is another trait possessed by the youngster, a fact evidenced in a recent match against St George’s when despite suffering a hard blow on his left ankle, Proctor soldiered on for the sake of the team, bowling ten overs and claiming two wickets.

“I just love the game of cricket,” said Proctor. “I just want to be involved.

“So, if that’s wicket-keeping, bowling spin, whatever. If I have to bat left-handed I’ll do it because I just love the game.”