Somerset colt Zeri Tomlinson has finally got the chance to showcase his talents in Cup Match but only after switching sides.

After four years watching on from the boundary ropes as a reserve for St George’s, the captain of the Bermuda Under-19 team changed allegiance to try his luck up west.

It proved to be a wise choice as the talented wicketkeeper-batter got the nod from the selectors over incumbent Steven Bremar Jr and Somerset’s Amari Ebbin as one of three colts chosen by the champions.

While the 18-year-old is ecstatic to be making his debut in the annual classic, he is keen to live up to his potential and the lofty expectations placed on him by the Somerset coaching staff.

“I am pretty excited to make the team,” Tomlinson told The Royal Gazette.

“I have been trying for a long time, obviously at a different club, but I feel like my hard work has paid off and it’s not really done yet. Now that I have been picked I have to perform, but I’m looking forward to it.”

The Warwick Workmen’s Club player felt he stood a good chance of being selected heading into Somerset’s final Cup Match trial last weekend, but was left waiting for news of his selection after scoring just six runs for the Vice-President’s XI when batting at No 4 in the first innings.

“I felt I had a chance but everybody had a good opportunity to show what they can do,” he said.

“Being a wicketkeeper helped because if I was just a batsman trying to get into the team it would be even harder.”

Tomlinson enjoyed more success with the gloves after taking two catches in the second innings of the trial, which ended in a draw.

“I thought my wicketkeeping was OK,” he said. “Since I’ve been back in Bermuda I’ve mostly kept wicket in the second innings and it always gets to a point where the pitch starts to turn for the spinners. It gets really challenging so we will have a look at what the conditions will be like for Cup Match.

“I am just going to do the best I can with my preparations and make it as tough as possible, so when it comes to the real thing I don’t feel like it’s any different.”

Tomlinson is among a trio of Bermuda Under-19 players poised to make their debut in Cup Match this year with Luke Horan and Isaiah O’Brien making their debuts for St George’s.

“We had a feeling in the under-19 squad that some things might happen and luckily three of us have been selected along with a few reserves as well, so that’s really good,” he said.

“Horan is a very, very talented cricketer and I am really happy for him to make it. I thought he could have got in last year with the talent that he has. He’s also very mature, so we will see what he does.”