Kevin Hurdle, the Bermuda seam bowler, is finally expected to make his debut for Premier Division side St David’s in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Willow Cuts at Lord’s.

Hurdle’s hopes of playing for St David’s were delayed when the Bermuda Cricket Board rejected his loan move from Flatts on the grounds that he is not a fringe player.

Now he is eligible to make his debut through a late transfer and will play against another late mover, Dean Stephens, who has joined Willow Cuts from Somerset Bridge.

Hurdle has been training with St David’s for over a month and Wendell Smith, the team’s coach, is delighted to have him to boost an already fearsome bowling attack.

Smith believes that it will be an exciting encounter, featuring the league’s best bowling attack against the strongest batting line-up made even stronger with the signing of Stephens, a former Somerset Cup Match batsman.

“Both teams are undefeated in the league and obviously it’s a much anticipated match,” said Smith, whose team beat Cuts by seven wickets in the Belco Cup final.

“I would love to see a lot of our fans come out for the match, people who come out for Eastern Counties. It would be nice to have them down at Lord’s to give us some support.

“As far as Kevin is concerned, he has trained with us regularly, about six weeks. You’re talking about a top player who has had to wait and the delay causes them to be quite hungry.”

Smith said that Hurdle, who harbours ambitions of returning to Bermuda set up at age 33, will add something extra to defending champion’s pace attack.

“His thinking was very understandable in that he’s at the twilight of his career, let me give it one last burst as far as far as trying to play some top cricket and represent Bermuda again.

“By going to one of the top teams in the league he realises he’s going to be at a club that will be involved in key matches and more likely to be noticed by the selectors and national coaches.

“He’s looked really good in training, is super fit coming off his long run and we’ve had some really good wickets for him to practice on. He’s looking forward to playing and we’re hoping that on Sunday, barring any injuries, he’ll be in the line-up. When he’s got a wicket that is fast and bouncy he’s a difficult customer.”

With the likes of Justin Pitcher, who should be fit to return from injury after two weeks’ rest, George O’Brien, Rudell Pitcher and Angelo Cannonier, the St David’s seam attack is formidable.

It will be an interesting match up against a Willow Cuts batting containing the likes of Chris Douglas and Chris Foggo, two former St David’s players, Deunte Darrell, Richardo Brangman, Shaquille Jones and Malachi Jones.

“The person who I have come to have a lot of respect for is George O’Brien, he’s getting early wickets every game,” Smith said. “And then coming back at the death and doing a job also.

“He’s been a revelation as far as coming to practice and putting in the work. He’s matured and now I think he realises how important he is to the team. He also bats for us at five or six. OJ Pitcher and Fiqre Crockwell are both striking the ball well and to be honest if I was a neutral spectator looking to come to a match I would come to Lord’s.

“You have Willow Cuts who have probably the best batting line-up in Bermuda playing against St David’s who have the best bowling line-up.”