Somerset Cricket Club Cricket Chairman Michael Corday is looking forward to what promises to be an “exciting and entertaining” tour of the Island by Melbourne Cricket Club.

The Jamaican team, which is based in Kingston, are due to arrive on Island next Wednesday to play a series of T20 and 50 overs matches during a whirlwind visit to these shores.

Accompanying Melbourne CC’s 13-member squad are former West Indies pair Courtney Walsh and Robert Samuels who have both visited Bermuda in the past.

Walsh will serve as the visitors’ manager while Samuels is the coach of a Melbourne team that has produced a number of outstanding cricketers that have gone on to represent the West Indies over the years.

Melbourne CC will kick off their tour of Bermuda with a T20 match against Commercial side Jamaican Association on April 11 at Somerset Cricket Club (6.30pm) before facing off with Somerset’s league team on April 12 (6:30pm) at the same venue.

The visitors are also scheduled to play three 50 overs matches with the senior national team at Somerset on April 13, 14 and 16 that will begin at 11am.

Corday said local cricket fans can expect to be treated to some entertaining cricket.

“Somerset Cricket Club is looking forward to hosting what promises to be an exciting and entertaining tour and everything is looking pretty good right now,” he said. “The field is in tip top shape and the groundsmen have done a great job on the pitch.”

The recent inclement weather has limited Somerset’s preparations in the lead up to next week’s match with Melbourne CC to only two outdoor training sessions.

However, Corday says the players have made the most of the situation training under acting coach Jeff Richardson and are ready to put their best foot forward against the visiting Jamaicans.

“We have been training now for a couple of weeks,” he added. “The last training session we had with coach Jeff Richardson was very good and the guys are together. They are champing at the bit and are ready to go.”

Somerset will warm up for their tour match with Melbourne CC with a practise T20 contest against Cleveland County at Somerset on Monday night.

The Cup Match champions are expected to be at full strength against the Jamaicans with senior national squad players Greg Maybury, Jacobi Robinson, Joshua Gilbert and Jekon Edness forming the backbone of the team.

“We should be fairly strong,” Corday added. “We have some good youngsters so we should be all right.”

Edness, who recently represented Bermuda at the ICC Americas Division 1 T20 in Florida along with Somerset teammates Robinson and Maybury, will again lead the West Enders into battle.

Last year saw Somerset regain the coveted Cup Match trophy for the first time in seven years and clinch the First Division championship and with it promotion to the top tier.