Hosts Somerset Cricket Club will be without star bowler Greg Maybury for the club’s T20 tour match with visiting Melbourne Cricket Club.

The national team fast bowler is currently off Island and, as such, is unable to showcase his talents against the Jamaican side at Somerset Cricket Club today (6:30pm).

Acting Somerset coach Jeff Richardson said Maybury’s unavailability is an “absolute setback” to his team’s hopes of reaping success against the visitors.

“He’s probably Somerset’s premier strike bowler at the moment,” he added. “He will be a big miss and it’s a hard spot to fill from the new ball perspective.”

Newcomer Dennico Hollis is among those likely to share the new ball with fellow left handed seamer Jordan DeSilva. Hollis, who represented Bermuda at last month’s ICC Americas Division 1 T20 in Florida, transferred to Somerset from Bailey’s Bay during the off season and looks set to make his debut for his new club.

Promising seamer Kamal Easton, son of former Police and Somerset Cup Match star Tyrone Smith, could also possibly get the nod to take on the huge responsibility of opening his team’s bowling.

“Kamal is young and strong and is a very good prospect,” Richardson added. “He’s bowled very well in the nets these past couple of nights and he should be taking the new ball as well.”

Richardson’s nephew Jacobi Robinson and national team teammate Joshua Gilbert are expected to carry the bulk of spin bowling duties for Somerset.

Robinson will also be looked upon to keep the scorers busy with his explosive batting while much will also be riding on the bat of team skipper Jekon Edness.

Among those who remain doubtful to play is veteran batsman Jermaine Warner who is carrying a niggling leg injury.

“One or two guys have picked up injuries here and there and we are just waiting to see how they come along,” Richardson said. “But we should have a decent team out there.

“We are ready to go and had a couple of training sessions under the lights this week and the guys worked hard so the sessions went well.”

Richardson acknowledges that his players will be at a disadvantage having not played competitive cricket going into the clash with Melbourne CC.

“The tour has caught us out of season because as you know the season doesn’t start till next month,” he said. “But we should be okay.”

Somerset’s final preparations for today’s match suffered a setback after Monday’s practice match with Cleveland County was postponed as a result of inclement weather the previous day.

“Gale force winds blew the covers off the wicket on Sunday night and half of the wicket was exposed to the elements so the game was called off,” said Richardson, who will announce his squad just prior to the start of today’s match.