Aaron Adams just cannot seem to retire from the Eastern Counties.

The batsman looks set to play for Cleveland County in Saturday’s second-round match against Flatts because of suspensions handed to three of the team’s players for their conduct in last month’s first round against Bailey’s Bay.

Shaki Darrell was banned for 14 games by the Eastern Counties Cricket Association for threatening behaviour towards the umpires, while Allan Douglas Jr, the captain, will miss two games and Dennis Musson one match.

The suspensions leave Cleveland with spots to fill, while they will also be without Clay Smith, their coach, who is in England with the Bermuda under-16 and under-14 development teams.

Adams, who played on Sunday against St David’s, scoring 15 before being trapped leg-before, looks certain to be included.

He retired in 2012 but Cleveland brought him out of retirement last season against St David’s, with his team winning the competition for the first time in 33 years.

The second-round match against Bay in 2014 looked like being Adams’s last in the competition as he was in New Jersey playing cricket with a Bermuda masters team during the final against Flatts.

Instead of putting his feet up and watching from the sidelines, Adams is set to play a part as Cleveland try to put this season’s controversies behind them.

“Aaron played on Sunday against St David’s and he should be in, but we are still looking to fill the other two spots,” said Carlton Smith, the Cleveland president, who will coach the team in Smith’s absence.

“The captain and vice-captain [Musson] are suspended but I’m not revealing my cards yet,” said Smith on who will take over as captain.

“We’re looking at a couple of the senior players, but I don’t want to put the pressure on certain guys.”

Cleveland will announce their team tomorrow and the others in contention for selection include Peter Philpott, who played last year, and guest players Hasan Durham, of Southampton Rangers, and Mishael Paynter, the St George’s captain, who has returned to action after a hand injury.

Cleveland easily beat Flatts in last season’s final, dismissing them for just 57 in 20.1 overs before securing a seven-wicket victory. Despite that result, Smith insists Flatts will not be taken for granted, especially now that they are back in the Premier Division.

“I had a good talk with the players after the game [against St David’s] on Sunday, where I told them that we kept the cup by the skin of our teeth and that guys need to buck up,” Smith said.

“Some things came to light to me in a recent meeting I had with Clay, as he wasn’t happy with the preparation for the Bay game when a couple of players strolled in after 9am.

“Flatts are going to come at us and it’s not going to be as dominating as last year when we bowled them out for 57.

“They were down in the First Division last year and they didn’t face any bowling like they faced in that county game against Denny [Musson] and Damali [Bell], two of the top bowlers in Bermuda.

“However, being in the Premier Division this year they are facing more quality bowling and will be more adept.”