to have a bowling team strong enough to beat champions St. George's in the 90th anniversary of the Cup Match Classic.

The tall order facing them is bowling out a strong St. George's team twice over the next two days to regain the cup they lost to St. George's in 1983.

Somerset have overlooked Anthony (Pacer) Edwards, the top bowler for Bermuda during their June tour of England, and without a specialist spinner don't have the variety in their bowling. Spinner Wayne (Spike) Richardson of Western Stars had looked the obvious replacement for Bruce Perinchief.

Somerset will pin their bowling hopes on Rodney Fubler and recalled Terry Burgess with the new ball and colt Janeiro Tucker, son of former Somerset and Bermuda captain John Tucker, likely to come on as early as first change.

After that they'll look to the medium pace of Devonshire captain Anthony (George) Amory, brothers Dexter and Richard Basden for the seam bowling and Olin Jones and captain Andre Manders himself for the slow bowling. Ricky Hill, too, might be required to turn his arm over some time during the two days.

The most successful of that bunch has been Amory whose 23 wickets have come at an average of 20.91. Manders and Dexter Basden have both taken 15 wickets this season while Hill has 10, Richard Basden nine and Jones eight.

Dexter Basden is already carrying the responsibility of being one of his team's most in-form batsmen having scored 578 runs at an average of 48.16.

"We have a lot of stock bowlers, people like Anthony Amory, Dexter Basden, Richard Basden...and then we'll have to count on Olin Jones and myself for spin,'' the Somerset skipper said of his team's bowling prospects.

"Richard and Janeiro both can bowl for long periods and just may have to do that without giving away too many runs.'' While it's in the bowling where the match will be won for Somerset, Manders thinks another area will also be crucial if they are to return the cup to the west end for the first time since 1983.

"If we are going to win it's going to be our fielding to carry us,'' he feels. "But our stock bowlers must come through as well.

"Our fielding should be stronger than a year ago with the addition of Janeiro and Jeff. Jeff ran out two players on Saturday with some superb fielding.'' On a strip that looked lively in the final trial match on Saturday and one which traditionally favours spin -- hence the recall of David Adams by the champions -- St. George's have a clear edge in that department.

"I would have liked to have a recognised spinner but `OJ' (Jones) and I will just have to do the bulk of the spin bowling to help balance our attack out,'' said Manders.

Smith admits to being a little concerned about the way the wicket played on Saturday in the final trial when it was a little jumpy. "The key is whether the wicket gives the bowlers some assistance and our fielding holding the catches,'' he stated last evening.

"The higher (standard) up you play if you give people a second chance it can take a longer time to get another opportunity.'' St. George's haven't won at Wellington Oval since 1969 with the last win there being in 1981 when Somerset won for the second time in three years after taking the cup back in 1979.

Despite both teams being strong in batting the feeling is that a win will be achieved this year. "Anything can happen but I'd rather us do our talking on the field,'' was Smith's response to the possibility of a victory by his team.

How well both team's bowling fares against the batting on the first day could determine the outcome, for the teams have great depth in their batting. Ten of the top 20 batsmen in the averages will be featured in Cup Match.

The two captains have revealed their opening batsmen, with Manders choosing to go with the pair of Dexter Basden and Ricky Hill while Smith has chosen Arnold Manders as his opening partner.

"We're going to go with Dexter and Ricky as the openers, they put on 82 for the opening stand on Saturday with the President's XI,'' said Manders. "Olin can bat further down in the order, probably after (Albert) Steede who I still prefer to use in his customary number three position.'' For the champions, Clay Smith, Charlie Marshall, Noel Gibbons, Clevie Wade, Graham Fox, Dean Minors and Kenny Phillips will follow the openers. Even Phillips at number nine is no slouch with the bat, having scored two half centuries this season.

"Charlie is in tremendous form in particular while Clevie has been batting well,'' said Smith. "In Cup Match someone who hasn't been getting runs may just step up.'' While Smith was surprised at the omission of Edwards by the west enders, Manders admitted to being surprised to hear that St. George's dropped youngster Glenn Smith.

"They have chosen a good allround team, one that is fairly balanced,'' Manders acknowledged.

"Actually they picked most of the players I figured they would go with.

However, I thought Glenn Smith and Del Hollis would be included.

"I was really surprised to see Smith left out. One thing for certain is that they have batting right down to number 10.'' Wendell Smith, who began his Cup Match career back in 1976 as a 16 year old, needs 25 runs to become the second highest run-getter in the history of Cup Match. Presently he is third on the highest aggregate list with 805 runs, just 24 behind another St. George's batsman, Edward Swainson. Lloyd James tops the list with 988 runs.

Noel Gibbons, the longest serving of the current Cup Match players with 21 successful appearances since 1971, is eighth on the aggregate list with 735 runs, just 27 behind fourth on the list, Alma (Champ) Hunt.

FLASHBACK TO LAST YEAR -- Somerset are seen here celebrating a moment os success, but it remains to be seen how much joy they will experience when they face the powerful champions at Wellington Oval tomorrow and Friday.

WENDELL SMITH -- Captain of St. George's.

ANDRE MANDERS -- The Somerset skipper.