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Cann ready to help St George’s win back trophy

Lionel Cann

Cup Match’s most senior player, Lionel Cann, has set his sights on another appearance in the Summer Classic...and a return to the Eastern Counties is a possibility, too.The 40-year-old filled in as captain for the injured Oronde Bascome last year but lost the coveted cup when the west enders pulled off a sensational 10-wicket victory.Now, Bascome is set to return as captain, with Cann hoping to play again...20 years after his 1993 debut.“I was standing in last year because Oronde was sick,” said Cann, who was the St George’s hero just the year before when his 49 not out led the champions to a close two-wicket win at Wellington Oval after Somerset were dismissed for just 97 in the first innings. Last year Somerset gained sweet revenge after St George’s scored in the first innings and were routed for 79 in the second as Somerset polished off the required 32 runs for victory in just five overs.“Obviously I want to get the cup back but I don’t look it as winning and losing trophies or winning or losing cricket games,” said Cann. “I’ve won enough in my life to know you win some and lose some.”Cann, who has 999 runs in Cup Match from 30 innings, is the fifth highest scorer in Cup Match history behind Charlie Marshall, Janeiro Tucker, Wendell Smith and Clay Smith. Reaching 1,000 runs would be a big honour, but he insists that isn’t the reason he wants to play another year.“I’m still playing international cricket and my view has always been that Cup Match should be about the best 22 players in Bermuda,” said Cann. “I still think I’m in that category and will play in the trials and do what I have to do to retain my spot.”St George’s will hold their first trial match on Saturday and are using the match to look at new talent as many of last year’s team have not been chosen.“I haven’t had any calls but I think they want to give people the opportunity to try to make the team and let the youngsters know what it feels like to be a part of the Cup Match trial,” said Cann.“We’ve lost that over the years and it has just become just a game, whereas when I was young just to make the trial was a big thing. It was competitive with everybody fighting for a spot.”Cann also revealed that he is making himself available for selection for St David’s in the Eastern Counties this year, after opting to miss last year to make way for youngsters.“I’ve had talks with the St. David’s president and told the president if they need me to play then I’m available to play,” he stated.“I haven’t changed my position, I felt they should give the youngsters a chance, but obviously they don’t have an Under-14 or PDL team so the youngsters aren’t coming through. If they had youngsters who were good enough and could earn their spot in the County team than it would not be an option.”Cup Match trial teams for Saturday at 10am at Wellington Oval:Team A: Oronde Bascome, Chae Foggo, Tomiko Wilson, Regino Smith, Machai Simmons, Zeko Burgess, George O’Brien, Bennett Phipps, Wilbur Burt, Misheal Paynter, Onias Bascome.Team B: Rodney Trott, Treadwell Gibbons, Sinclair Smith Jr., Jason Anderson, Allan Douglas, Ryan Steede, Damali Bell, Lateef Trott, David Bedard, Makai Young, Dennis Musson.