Sinclair Smith will lead St George’s into battle at Cup Match this year.

The challengers took to social media to announce the experienced wicketkeeper as captain for this year’s two-day contest, which will be held on July 31 and August 1 at Wellington Oval.

Clay Smith, the St George’s coach and former star batter, has expressed his delight over the recent appointment.

“I am very happy for Sinclair,” he said. “Since returning to St George’s he has been vice-captain for a few years and is now doing a fine job as captain now. Already this season after losing eight players in the transfer period he has still managed to lead us to the Knockout finals.

“He is a student of the game and takes his cricket very seriously. He always goes that extra mile; whether it be running miles to condition himself or doing extras in the nets or pulling out his little notebook and planning for the next match.

“I want to wish him well as we continue to work together in an effort to bring the Cup Match trophy back home where it belongs.”

Earlier this year Smith was named as the club’s new captain for the Premier Division 50 Overs and T20 competitions after taking over from Onias Bascome.

He was born and raised in St George’s and joined the Wellington Oval club in 2022 after a 15-year stint with nearby Bailey’s Bay.

Smith made his Cup Match debut for St George’s in 2016 and was recalled five years later when the challengers made six changes in a vain attempt to wrest back the prestigious cup from Somerset.

He is in Canada now playing for the national team at the ICC T20 World Cup Americas Regional Final in Toronto