Dean Minors has urged St George’s not to “miss the opportunity” to lock down promising all-rounder Charles Trott who is among those looking to break into the challenger’s Cup Match team.

Minors, a former St George’s and Bermuda wicketkeeper-batsman, said the PHC and Bermuda Under-19 player has the potential to evolve into a fine cricketer and believes that his left-arm seam bowling and batting prowess lower down the middle order can be a valuable asset to St George’s.

“Charles is a left-arm fast bowler so he naturally moves the ball away from the right-handed batsman,” Minors said.

“Left-arm pace bowlers are very rare and I just hope St George’s don’t miss the opportunity to take him.

“I remember wicketkeeping to left-arm bowlers and it’s beautiful and something you don’t see often.

“I think more than anything we’re in need of bowling Somerset out and he warrants a place. I strongly believe he really deserves a place in the St George’s team and looking at the department I really think he has a good chance of making it.

“We need bowlers and he comes with the complete package. He can bowl, bat and field and is also fit so he can come back and bowl if asked to. He’s a very much complete player and what I love about Charles is that he is coachable.

“He’s level-headed and to me that’s the most important part. He comes with a humble cricketing attitude and that’s what I love about him. Charles reminds me so much of Kyle Lightbourne and to be honest I think he’s going to be Bermuda’s next best opening bowler all-rounder — I really believe that.”

Trott, 18, served notice to the St George’s selectors with a fine all-round display in PHC’s 51-run triumph over the East Enders at PHC Field this month, topping the home side’s batting with 29 in the first innings before returning to claim three wickets for 36 runs.

Last summer Trott took advantage of an opportunity to broaden his cricketing horizons during a three-month stint with Oxstead and Limpsfield in the Surrey Youth League.

The opportunity was made possible by the support of Trott’s club and a flourishing partnership between Minors and Chris Thompson, the former Surrey and England Under-19 opening batsman. Minors struck up a partnership with Thompson when he visited Bermuda with the MCC in 2011.

“Last year he had the opportunity to go over to England and take his cricket further and did extremely well in probably one of the toughest leagues in England,” Minors said.

“From what I gather from the club he was absolutely amazing, on and off the field, and they could see towards the end of the season that he had taken himself to another level.

“This year his team wanted him to come back but he opted to stay in Bermuda. But I’m hoping he does return because they really wanted him to come back and play.”

n The annual Cup Match Good Sportsmanship Award has been put back a week to Thursday, August 17.

The award was created in 2004 by the Bermuda Friendly Societies Association and recognises not only the recipient’s prowess on the field but also his leadership capabilities, commitment to teamwork and dedication to fair play.

The ceremony will take place at Manchester Unity Hall on Victoria Street in Hamilton, starting at 6.30pm.

Stephen Outerbridge of Somerset won last year’s award after walking before being given out after edging a ball on 49.

The guest speaker will be an individual closely involved in the game, perhaps as a player, umpire, or scorer.

“Although most people know a little something about Cup Match as the top event on Bermuda’s summer sporting calendar, many are unaware of how this tradition started and how, over time, it developed into Bermuda’s biggest sporting, cultural and social event,” said a spokesperson for the Bermuda Friendly Societies Association.

Cup Match had its origins in a friendly gathering of two of the Lodges, which were part of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, those being Somers Pride of India Lodge, No 899, in St George’s and Victoria and Albert Lodge, No 1027, in Somerset.

Somers Pride of India Lodge was formed in 1848, while Albert and Victoria Lodge was established in 1852.

In 1902, it was recommended by John “Hotter” Symonds that the two teams play for a trophy. The idea caught on, funds were raised to purchase a suitable trophy and the first Cup Match was played in St George’s in 1902.