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Victory far more important than records insists Tucker

Janeiro Tucker celebrates a Cup Match century but he insists a Somerset win is far more important this week than adding to his list of Classic records.

Janeiro Tucker insists he will be looking for a win over St. George's and not his pursuit of a handful of records he could own by the end of the second day of the Cup Match classic.

Dubbed 'Mr. Cup Match' by many, Tucker is level with Clay Smith for the most centuries (three) and is currently 127 runs behind all-time leading run-getter Charlie Marshall.

The Somerset stalwart, however, isn't looking to break the records but rather win. The records would be a bonus if they come along but victory on home turf is the main goal for the Southampton Rangers' master blaster.

St. George's have held the trophy for the past five years.

Should he have a choice as to which record he would rather break, Tucker made it quite clear which was his preference.

"I'm not setting myself up to do anything like breaking records, the main thing is to get the required result to bring the trophy to Somerset," he said yesterday.

"I will take everything step by step and see how it plays out, if it happens it happens I'll be happy but the victory is the most important thing.

"If I break the records during the victory that would be all the sweeter.

"Right now, if I had to choose between one record it would be the century because obviously if I get the century record rather than the 127 I am behind Charlie, that won't be a problem.

"I am just trying to take things one step at a time and see how it goes."

Measuring up the two teams, Tucker reckons that the champions haven't assembled a side capable of holding onto the trophy, noting the lack of patient batsmen that will eventually be their demise.

Tucker is adamant that this year Somerset are better than St. George's.

With the bowling attack his side have, the veteran believes his team are more than equipped to strip St. George's of the crown.

"The team we have is a pretty good side, we have some aggressive bats as well as a few guys who can hold the bat and turn over the strike with ones and twos.

"With Malachi (Jones), Dwayne (Leverock), Jordan (DeSilva) and Joshua (Gilbert), we have bowlers capable of bowling them out.

"If we can do what we have talked about then we should be alright.

"We have a better team than St. George's.

"In their side I don't see too many guys that can hang around. They have Lionel (Cann), OJ (Pitcher), and Chris Foggo, and maybe Jason (Anderson), but you are talking about two days of cricket and a lot of pressure if it gets to them, so we will see how they handle the situation and we have to be ready to apply pressure and willing to take a few risks."

Following in the footsteps of his father John Tucker, playing for Somerset was always in his plans with the likes of Noel Gibbons and Clevie Wade serving as an inspiration run getter early in his life.

Yet the last skipper to captain Somerset to a win in Cup Match won't give any hints as to whether this will be his last classic should they get the win.

"There are a lot of things that will have to fall in place in order for this to be my last Cup Match.

"As of now the answer is no, but I would never say never.

"A win is first and foremost, and then I can think about it but I am enjoying cricket right now.

"Growing up around my father and other greats like Noel Gibbons, Clevie Wade, it was an inspiration for me to go out and be like them and it is an honour to be named in the same group as these guys.

"I always wanted to prosper in Cup Match but I didn't think I would be in a position I am now."