Bermuda's top strike bowler, Clarkie Trott, has been persuaded to give Cup Match another try...a year after insisting he had had enough of local cricket's showpiece.

Trott was surprisingly overlooked by St. George's last year in favour of colt Ryan Steede, despite having taken 20 wickets more than any other bowler in the league at the time.

Disappointed, he decided then that Cup Match wasn't worth the trouble.

In his comments then, Trott said he felt that his overthrow for four, which gave Somerset an exciting victory in 1996, was still being held against him by the club.

However, the 30-year-old Bailey's Bay seamer is now prepared to give it another shot after talking with St. George's captain Herbie Bascome.

"It had a lot to do with Herbie and then sitting down and talking with the family,'' said Trott this week.

"Whatever anyone says doesn't matter. If people are going to hold something against you then they will hold it against you. Up to today people still talk about it.'' Trott admits the call from Bascome made all the difference.

"That Sunday evening when he called he was serious about it and it showed to me that it was not just a player calling but the St. George's captain.

"It never happened before and if I hadn't heard from Herbie I wouldn't waste my time.'' Trott, already the top wicket-taker this season with 21 victims at eight runs each, paid his membership dues by the June 1 deadline which makes him eligible for selection.

Bascome says the public deserve to see a quality bowler like Trott in Cup Match.

"I called him up and had a word with him and I'm happy he's reconsidered,'' said Bascome. "I feel he's an excellent bowler.'' Bascome said whatever happened three years ago with Trott should be forgotten.

"That could happen to anybody,'' said the captain. "He did it for good reasons, it's just unfortunate it turned out the way it turned out.'' Trott's name was included in the list of eligible players St. George's shared with Somerset during their second of three scheduled meetings on Monday night, ahead of next month's classic.

Last year's captain Clay Smith, who angered some club members by moving to neighbours St. David's, is also on the list as all the players from last year's team have paid their dues on time.

To avoid confusion over eligibility of players, the clubs agreed on a deadline for players paying their dues.

Last year Sammy Robinson of St. David's was pursued by both clubs, and chosen by both for the final trial, before deciding to go with Somerset.

Former St. George's captain Wendell Smith, who is now club and selection committee chairman, sees the changes as positive as players cannot now wait until later in the season to pay their dues, based on whether they have a good chance of selection.

"The critical issue here is that players need to be seen to be showing some loyalty and commitment to a club rather than just waiting to see how their season is going and, if they are in form, becoming a member,'' said Smith.

"What does that say about a player's commitment to a particular club? Are they saying they are only going to become a member if they think they are going to make Cup Match?'' Added Smith: "The big issue last year was Sammy Robinson. Both of us had him picked in our final trial and we just had to wait and see where he was going to show up.'' Smith's decision to concentrate more on coaching has enabled a youngster in the league team to establish himself in the team. Sinclair Gibbons, more known for his football exploits with Vasco, has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the team this season since moving up the order.

"Here's a prime example of someone who might not have gotten a consistent run and he's doing well,'' said Smith.

"At least he's going to enjoy his cricket more because he's getting a chance to develop.'' With Cup Match about six weeks away, the two clubs are struggling for free dates to hold trials.

The July 3 window set aside as a trial match date was lost for St. George's -- and possibly Somerset too -- when the Camel Cup final between St. George's and Bailey's Bay was rescheduled for that day.

St. George's have just one scheduled trial match (June 26 against St. David's) before the final trial on July 24.

Clarkie Trott: back in contention for Cup Match selection following a discussion with St. George's skipper Herbie Bascome.