TWO brothers were expected to be picked for separate Eastern Counties teams last night when champions St. David's and challengers Cleveland went through the selection process ahead of tomorrow's second-round match at Sea Breeze Oval.

It did happen in the 1960s when Alfred (Fleas) and Sidney (Cowboy) Hall played for Flatts and St. David's respectively. Tomorrow it will happen again if Chris Douglas of St. David's and Stephen Douglas Jr. of Cleveland were selected. Both are the sons of umpire Stephen Douglas who also had the distinction of playing in the counties alongside his brother Allan.

Certainly the counties are very special to the four communities. Teenager Chris, a left-handed early-order batsman and off-break bowler, has already made his debut for St. David's and having his older brother, a left-handed opener, on the opposing team would be a special moment for the Douglas family.

"My nerves are jingling ever since I knew both had chances of making it," said father Stephen who ? fortunately or unfortunately ? won't be here to see his sons on the field together. Douglas will be in Canada this weekend with five other local umpires (Roger Dill, George Francis, Randy Butler, Lester Harnet and Wally Manders) for an umpires seminar.

Chris made his debut for St. David's last year and his father admitted: "I was more nervous than he was. I watched him bat and when he made his first run it was like my first county match.

"I just want both of them to do well. Chris is more talented but Stephen works much harder at his game than Chris does. There is a friendly rivalry between them all the time. I'm always proud when they do well."

Chris started out as a junior with St. David's but with so many talented youngsters coming through he switched to Warwick where his uncle Allan was coaching.

"There was a lot of talent at St. David's and he felt he would get better coaching under his uncle," said Stephen.

Another Douglas will be involved in the match and like her other family members Jovanna will be hoping her brothers do well.

As the Cleveland scorer (as well as a selector), she will be required to watch every delivery, but already admits she is likely to be on edge as Cleveland bid to win the cup for the first time in 25 years.

"It was July 18, 1981 and I have the scorebook," said Jovanna whose mother Rose-Anna was scoring for Cleveland that year.

"I was only 17 days old," said Jovanna who like most of Cleveland's under-30 fans cannot remember their team every holding the cup. If it gets close she admits she probably won't be able to sit still.

"I don't like close games," she revealed.

The Eastern Counties has a way of bringing that out of people. Thirty four years after becoming the youngest colt at age 14, Allen Richardson is set to play again for St. David's at the age of 48. He scored 31 in the first round against Bailey's Bay and with so many players ? Clay Smith, George O'Brien, Delyone Borden and Stefan Kelly ? unavailable because of the national team's tour of Canada, Richardson's experience will again be vital. George Cannonier, at 56, is also likely to be included again.

For Richardson, the thrill of playing in the counties again after an eight-year break can't be described.

"Age doesn't even come into effect," he stressed. "It's how I feel, I don't even consider the age. I only think about the age when I realise I played with some of these guys' fathers...when and how long ago."

Richardson remembers all those years ago going down to St. David's on County Cup day and what that meant to the St. David's community. Then, at 14, he was playing alongside his St. David's idols in the counties.

"I thought it (excitement) would go away but it's different when you are born and bred in St. David's," said Richardson who was the second player to score 1,000 runs in the Eastern Counties.

"I never went down to the field without stopping at Pitcher's Variety store to get my gold and blue colours. County Cup was the thing. I remember Bailey's Bay coming down to St. David's in convertibles in their red blazers. It was a big occasion with the siren from Bruce Paynter for the first ball. I can remember that vividly."

Richardson has learned to "seize the moment" as each county match could be his last. In fact he never thought he would still be playing late into his 40s.

"I get more nervous in County Cup than I ever did in Cup Match," he revealed.

"When St. David's won last year I couldn't even watch."