Strike bowler Herbie Bascome is the new captain of St. George's, ending weeks of speculations over who would replace Clay Smith who has moved to neighbours St. David's.

Club president Louis (Red) DeSilva confirmed on the weekend that Bascome, last season's vice captain, has been handed the job of leading the team in the league. It also seems a mere formality that Bascome will also captain the Cup Match team in only his third appearance.

"He's conpetent and I'm very confident,'' said DeSilva who noted that the appointment was made by the Management Committee as has been the procedure over the last few years.

"We selected who we felt was the best person for the job. Herbie comes with some great recommendations from some people high up in cricket.

"He's a great motivator and seems to get guys around him up and ready for anything they need to do for him. He knows the game well enough and he has been vice captain.'' Bascome, who has previously coached the club's football team, declined comment on his appointment until he had spoken again with the president. Some of the other names linked with the post were wicketkeeper Dean Minors, who is still abroad in school and may miss the early stages of the season, and veteran players Eugene Foggo and Ricky Hodsoll. Former captain Wendell Smith, now the team's coach and the man responsible for tranforming the team into one of the best in the league in the 1980s, was another name mentioned.

Smith, however, denied he was even in the running, though he hasn't ruled out returning to playing more this season.

"I wasn't approached about it and would not have considered it in that Herbie did a fine job last year when Clay was suspended,'' said Smith.

"He sustained the momentum that we had while Clay was skipper and I think the rest of the players were very happy with Herbie's leadership.'' Last year the team won the Open Competition and Camel Cup and were second to Bailey's Bay in the league. Their only loss for the season came in their final match when they were beaten in the Knockout final by St. David's.

It will be difficult especially under a new captain to duplicate that feat, also with the loss of key players like Smith and Lionel Cann, who is returning to St. David's, Clevie Wade (to Southampton Rangers as player-coach) and Kenny Phillip who is reported to be heading back to Police to finish his career.

Wendell may find himself having to play again to help the team, though he says it won't be until after school gets out.

"To be frank I hope I don't have to play while school is still going on, my priority is my students,'' said Smith who is principal of Paget Primary.

"I would rather let some youngsters play and just coach, but it's a matter of numbers. When you lose Clay and Lionel, plus Clevie and Kenny, that's a considerable amount of batting that we would have lost.''