Wendell Smith has stood down as a St George’s selector and will not be involved with coaching the Cup Match team, citing commitments to St David’s, his Premier Division club, and also his role as a radio commentator.

“I let them know a month ago,” Smith said. “I realised Noel Gibbons is coaching over there, so in my way of thinking it would be ideal for him to come in and fill that spot that I would vacate.

“He’s training with them every week up until Cup Match and I knew this summer I was going to be very committed to St David’s because we are the Eastern Counties holders.

“I’m employed by St David’s and so have to give them full commitment.

“The other thing had to do with commentating, the fact that because I’m a commentator I don’t want to be perceived to have any bias towards St George’s.

“By giving up my position as a selector, I don’t have any ties with St George’s in a coaching or selector capacity.

“It is something that is important to me when I commentate, that I want to be seen as a non-biased commentator.

“When I commentate I try to give the analysis from a matter-of-fact point, how the game is unfolding, not looking at it from one team’s perspective but both teams’ perspective.”

Smith added: “It also put me in a position that I didn’t enjoy where, on the morning of Cup Match, I’m helping them do drills and then running up to the commentating booth.

“To me, that’s not an ideal situation and they have enough quality coaches in St George’s where they should be fine. St George’s still have Gibbons, Herbie Bascome and Clevie Wade to carry out the coaching in the build-up to the match, which is six weeks away.”

Smith, the first batsman to score 1,000 runs in Cup Match, has joined a string of former Cup Match players who have turned their hand to commentating, including Randy Horton, Colin Blades, Arnold Manders, Albert Steede and Cleon Scotland.

His two colleagues on ZBM at present, Allen Richardson and Dwayne Leverock, are also former Cup Match players.

“I enjoy it tremendously, especially working with Dwayne and Allen, because you are able to bring some insight into the game that some of the spectators who are watching may not pick up on as far as what the captains are trying to do with the field placings, bowling changes and things like that,” Smith said.

“I would like to think that with my background in cricket, being a Level Three coach and having played internationally and worked with a lot of wonderful coaches like Gus Logie and Doug Ferguson, that what I’ve learnt I can bring to the airwaves.

“It’s a very enjoyable way to spend Cup Match. I guess I’m moving away from the era of being a selector and looking at a future era as far as being a commentator once I step out of the coaching realm.”