Two thirty-something colts will be trusted with the job of sharing the new ball for challengers St.George's in Cup Match on Thursday and Friday.

And both feel they are up to the task of penetrating the top of the Somerset batting order which contains in-form captain and vice captain Dexter Basden and Albert Steede.

Herbie Bascome, 33, and Gary Brangman, 36, were both chosen to make their Cup Match debuts ...Bascome coming in as expected to replace Clarkie Trott and Brangman somewhat surprisingly replacing Gregg Foggo who was omitted after just one year.

"The way I feel right now I can't wait to get the game started,'' said Bascome. The dreadlocked paceman will face Albert Steede for the first time since Steede scored a century off St. George's' bowlers two weeks ago.

It might have been different had Steede not been dropped off Bascome's bowling when he had scored just one. Bascome eventually did get his man in his second spell, by which time the Bermuda captain had added 100 more runs.

As good batsmen do, they make teams pay for chances put down and a similar mistake could mean trouble for the challengers this week. Last year a century by Steede set up a dramatic victory for Somerset.

"I see it as a great test. I don't think their batting is solid whereas the guys are that hard to get out, other than Albert. I've been getting Albert in the last couple of years. I got him out four times last year.

"If we can get Albert early we shouldn't have a problem. If we don't get him early, he'll get set.'' Bascome sees himself as being even better with the old ball than with the new, which will make him a threat in a second or third spell.

He has had a successful partnership with Gregg Foggo in the league this season, but the St.George's selectors decided to go with the more experienced Brangman as Bascome's new ball partner.

"With Gary we are both experienced enough to adjust,'' said Bascome.

Brangman has an advantage in that he plays for Western Stars with three of Somerset's key batsmen -- Steede, Andre Manders and Treadwell Gibbons. As a bowler he should know something about their strengths and weaknesses.

"I basically know where I want to bowl at Albert,'' Brangman admitted.

"I've been waiting for this opportunity and now that I've finally got it I want to show what I'm really worth.'' Brangman has been trying to make the St.George's team for seven years and might have felt that his chance would never come. "I was hoping something like this would happen, I'm having a good season,'' he said.

"Everybody was telling me I had a good chance to get in but I said I wasn't paying any attention to that until I saw my name on the blackboard.'' Brangman was beaten into the classic by his brother Allan who played for Somerset in 1993. Gary also first tried out at Somerset before switching to St.George's. He was at the club on Saturday night to see his name go up.

"This is like a dream come true, everybody dreams of playing Cup Match,'' he said. "This completes my whole career. It's the icing on the cake.''