Excitement is building for the Eastern Counties opening round at Lord’s on Saturday after Bailey’s Bay and Flatts announced their respective teams on Wednesday night.

Bay have made changes from the side who won the final last year with Azendé Furbert preferred to Tre Manders among the batters.

Fast bowler Jordan Burgess has been drafted into the starting XI in the absence of Macquille Walker, who misses the match following the birth of his first child this week.

Barbados spinner Michael Agard also plays in the competition for the first time. Agard adds to Bay’s strong slow-bowling arsenal that already features Rodney Trott, Delray Rawlins and Derrick Brangman.

Bay captain Terryn Fray spoke about his team selection shortly after the squad was unveiled to members of the club at Sea Breeze Oval.

“Our selection was based on performance,” Fray told The Royal Gazette.

“We have some players from our club side that are really performing to the standard that we want them to be. We’re going to use this round to play the two guest players, Zeko [Burgess] and Derrick [Brangman], who can boost the bowling department and also the batting.

“The selectors decided against Tre Manders just based on his recent form. We all know how good Tre is as a batter, but the selectors felt with Tre not performing on the local scene, we can play one of our own.

“Tre and Azendé were like-for-like and we opted for Azendé. He did well against Flatts last week and he’s got us across the line a few times this season, so it was only fitting that he got an opportunity again.

“Michael Agard has been with us for a number of years and this is his first year eligible to play Eastern Counties. He wasn't eligible all these years because he’s from Barbados, but they just passed it this year and he can play.”

Flatts, who named female cricketer Brianna Ray as one of their reserves, will be led by Dajon Carey.

The presence of the experienced Kamau Leverock, rising star Keegan Jones, Jan-Johan Nel and in-form guest player Amari Ebbin lends hope to their chances of causing an upset.