Malachi Jones has made himself unavailable for Bailey’s Bay’s Eastern Counties first-round match against Cleveland County tomorrow.

Jones, who left Bay to return to Southampton Rangers this season, informed the selectors of his decision shortly after they began picking the team.

The all-rounder had been training with Bay an hour earlier on Wednesday evening, with his decision coming as a shock to captain Rodney Trott.

“[Jones] was definitely in everybody’s team, but when we started picking the side he came inside [the room] and made himself unavailable,” Trott said.

“I called him afterwards and asked if he was serious and he said his mind isn’t really focused on cricket and didn’t want to let us down.

“Once he said he was not focused on cricket right now, I definitely couldn’t pick him. I’m going to sit down and talk to him because he is a close friend of mine.

“I’d like to thank him for being honest because I would have been more upset if I picked him and knew I wouldn’t be getting full effort from him.”

Jones is eligible to play in the Eastern Counties on the residency rule, having lived in the area.

“I definitely think it is a well-balanced team,” Trott added. “I still think we’ve more than enough talent to retain the trophy.”

Bay have named two colts in their team, opener Pierre Smith and batsman Jarryd Richardson, who makes his debut at the age of 15. Richardson is the great grandson of Leroy “Tubby” Richardson, the oldest surviving Cup Match player.

“I’d like to put him somewhere in the middle order,” Trott said of Richardson, who is at school in England and is also a talented footballer.

“He’s a very exciting batsman, for a 15-year-old he definitely has the talent and potential. He played in the Junior Eastern Counties last weekend. Hopefully he can show a bit of his class on Saturday.

“I believe in giving youngsters opportunities because it gives other young guys coming behind him reason to work hard as it could also be them.”

BAILEY’S BAY

Rodney Trott (captain), Terryn Fray, Stephen Outerbridge, Sinclair Smith, Coolie Durham, Tre Manders, Kyle Hodsoll, Zeko Burgess, Jarryd Richardson (colt), Pierre Smith (colt). Reserves Dennico Hollis, Jordan Smith, Nyhrobi Carmichael, Jordan Burgess