After a meeting that lasted almost four hours, St.George's Cup Match selectors emerged at 1.00 a.m. yesterday with a team containing five changes from last year's beaten eleven.

The big shock was the omission of veteran batsman Charlie Marshall, while the inclusion of Western Stars bowler Gary Brangman for his first Cup Match also came as a surprise.

Joining Marshall on the sidelines was last year's colt, Gregg Foggo.

Brangman was one of four colts named by the selectors. He joins Herbie Bascome, Jason Lewis and Mark Ray who will also make their summer classic debuts.

Also included after a two-year absence was Western Stars captain Arnold Manders.

Besides Marshall and Foggo, left out from last year's team were Wendell Smith, Clevie Wade and Clarkie Trott who had all declared themselves unavailable.

Team: Clay Smith (captain), Dean Minors (vice captain), Jason Lewis (colt), Glenn Blakeney, Arnold Manders, Lionel Cann, Mark Ray (colt), Gary Brangman (colt), Eugene Foggo, David Adams, Herbie Bascome (colt). Reserves: Cleon Scotland, Ryan Steede.

Chairman of selectors, Gregory Foggo, described the decision-making process as "one of the hardest'' as the panel of five all argued for their choices.

"It was just a difficult team to pick,'' said Foggo.

The omission of 35-year-old Marshall, a veteran of 15 Cup Matches since his debut in 1980, left those at the club stunned. But the player himself was upbeat when contacted at home yesterday morning.

"I couldn't be in a better mood,'' he said. "I was prepared for it. I had heard that Clay didn't have me in his team.

"At my age I don't feel I have anything to prove. I knew somebody had to get dropped because there were so many options this year.

"Knowing that Wendell and Clevie weren't there, I was the next experienced player they could have left in the team. But I look at it as an opportunity for two days of fishing. People are more upset about it than I am.'' Manders, dropped two years ago for what was thought to be the fourth and final time, earned yet another recall. The other experienced player in line for a recall, Noel Gibbons, was overlooked despite scoring a fluent 71 in Saturday's final trial for the President's XI who lost by just nine runs.

Gibbons hit seven fours and three sixes in his knock, after coming in at number three.

Manders opened the innings for the Vice President's XI and scored 34.

Indications are he will be asked to open the innings again this week, with either Jason Lewis or Glenn Blakeney.

Both of them got runs, Lewis smashing 84, his highest knock of the season, from 15 fours and a six in the Vice President's XI score of 251-8 declared.

Blakeney hit 36 as an opener for the President's XI who replied with 242, collapsing from 230-6 when Clay Smith retired his innings on 48 with victory in sight.

Lewis' knock ended a lean run after a promising start to the season and now he follows brother Darrin (formerly of Somerset) into Cup Match.

"I found out this morning,'' said the 26-year-old Lewis yesterday. "I still wasn't sure if I was going to make it or not. I knew I had to make a big score. I've had some rough times this year.'' Ray was the choice for the all-rounder's spot vacated by Wade, clinching his place with a knock of 44 which included nine boundaries.

Bascome was the obvious choice for one of the opening bowling spots and he ended Dexter Smith's hopes of a recall when he removed him on the third ball of the match after Smith drove him for four first ball. Bascome finished with two for 44.

One player overlooked despite bowling well on Saturday was Gregg Foggo who bowled 14 tidy overs and finished with one for 33 with four maidens. His place goes to Gary Brangman who claimed two for 51 from 13 overs.

Top bowler in the Vice President's XI was Ryan Steede with three for 38 from 10.3 overs.

He shared the new ball with Anthony Braithwaite who was expensive in his 10 overs, giving up 68 for one wicket, as Dennis Archer (31) and Blakeney scored 65 in just 40 minutes for the first wicket.

Trial scoreboard -- see Page 22 CHARLIE MARSHALL -- Dropped after a Cup Match career dating back to 1980.