After recording a personal best score of 134 at Wellington Oval last year, then St.George?s Cup Match skipper Charlie Marshall announced his retirement after 23 years ? only 99 runs shy of Wendell Smith?s all-time record of 1,143 runs.

And although many felt Marshall still had more to offer, nothing, he said, would persuade him to come back ? not even the temptation of surpassing Smith?s landmark.

?Wendell (Smith) is a good friend of mine and even if I would?ve have gotten closer to his record, then I would?ve have walked off the field,? Marshall told following last year?s tame draw at Wellington Oval.

But now a year later, the hard-hitting left-handed batsman also considered one of the best cover fielders the Island has ever produced, has had a change of heart.

So much for friendship!

?St. George?s have treated me so well over the years and so I?ve decided to reconsider my retirement ? so many people asked me to play,? explained Marshall on his decision to carry on.

?I have to thank the people of St.George?s and St.George?s Cricket Club for inviting me back to play. The fans asked me to reconsider my decision to retire and so I took up the offer and was successful.

?Just a month before Cup Match there wasn?t a place where I went where people weren?t asking me to come back out. They (fans) understood my position last year as skipper with the guys not training in the build-up to Cup Match. They knew part of the reasons why I retired was due to frustration because I wasn?t too pleased with the preparation last year.?

Confident that St.George?s can dismiss Somerset twice in two days, Marshall described the team selected this year as ?well? balanced.

?Our bowling is our main concern and I think we just need to stay focused. I just want to assist Gregg (Foggo) and the rest of the team wherever I can over the two days,? he added.

As for Smith?s record, Marshall said: ?Whatever happens is meant to happen, but my main concern is to make sure St.George?s do well. I?ve been able to keep myself in good shape.?

Marshall currently lies in ninth spot on the all-time Cup Match batting averages having scored 1,044 runs from 33 innings at an average of 34.80.

The former Bailey?s Bay player arrived on the Cup Match stage in the most dramatic fashion in 1980, smashing a glorious six off Robert Hinds to score a magnificent century as a colt at Wellington Oval.

That record stood for 23 years and was only bettered last year, ironically at the same ground, by Somerset colt Saleem Mukuddem (106).

Marshall?s top knock of 134 last year is the seventh highest individual tally in the classic.

The veteran also shares batting partnership records for the fourth and fifth wickets with Clay Smith and former St.George?s? skipper Clevie (Palmer) Wade.

Marshall and Smith surpassed the previous record for the fourth wicket of 135 ? set by Somerset?s John Tucker and Colin Blades in 1979 ? last year in a match which saw multiple records tumble at Wellington Oval.