Excitement is building for the Eastern Counties opening round at Lord’s on Saturday after Bailey’s Bay and Flatts announced their respective teams on Wednesday night.

Bay have made changes from the side who won the final last year with Azendé Furbert taking the slot left vacant by Tre Manders among the batters.

The Royal Gazette understands that Manders is not available to play for Gus Logie’s side in the competition as a result of his agreement with St David’s, whom he joined before the start of the season.

Fast bowler Jordan Burgess has been drafted into the starting XI to fill the void opened up Macquille Walker, who misses the match following the birth of his first child this week.

Barbados spinner Michael Agard also plays in the competition for the first time. Agard adds to Bay’s strong slow-bowling arsenal that already features Rodney Trott, Delray Rawlins and Derrick Brangman.

Flatts, who named female cricketer Brianna Ray as one of their reserves, will be led by Dajon Carey.

The presence of the experienced Kamau Leverock, rising star Keegan Jones, Jan-Johan Nel and in-form guest player Amari Ebbin lends hope to their chances of causing an upset.