Cup Match?s all-time leading run-getter Charlie Marshall has urged his fellow St.George?s batsmen to apply themselves at the crease when they travel to the West End on Thursday and Friday to defend the cup.

Marshall captained the St.George?s Vice-President?s XI to a six-wicket victory over the President?s XI last Saturday at Wellington Oval ? a result he says owed much to some ill-advised shot selection on the part of the opposition?s batsmen rather than anything else.

Now the elder statesman of local cricket has encouraged his colleagues to acquit themselves in the middle, and play each ball on its merit.

?On Saturday I felt a lot of batsmen on the President?s XI got out to bad shot selection, and that?s why they only scored 112 runs,? said Marshall, who has scored 1,164 runs in Cup Match. ?And it was very frustrating watching some of our senior batsmen not being responsible enough at the crease.

?Fifteen years ago it was mandatory to play five Cup Match trial matches which were much more intense and everybody had to perform at a high level. It certainly was much harder back then, but it also made you a lot tougher.

?It is very easy today to make a Cup Match team because the season schedule just doesn?t allow both clubs that amount of time to stage five trial matches anymore.

?But I think the guys just need to be a bit more positive when it comes to shot selection, and they will do well.?

Marshall surpassed former St.George?s skipper Wendell Smith as the classic?s most prolific run-getter when he scored 58 runs in the East Enders? first innings last summer at Wellington Oval.

He also shares batting partnership records for the fourth and fifth wickets with Clay Smith and Clevie Wade.

In 2003, Marshall and Smith produced 212 runs for the fourth wicket, the second highest batting partnership of all time in the classic.

Rupert Scotland and Lee Raynor put on 229 runs for the sixth wicket in 1974 at Somerset Cricket Club.

While physically Marshall insists he?s in ?great shape?, he did reveal yesterday that making what is believed to be a record 25th appearance in Cup Match this summer was the furthest thing on his mind at the beginning of the season.

Marshall retired from the classic in 2003, but returned the very next year.

?My primary goal was to ensure Social Club had a great season. I was going to play a few matches just to keep the guys rolling,? he explained. ?But I am still producing the goods and I think that is what?s encouraging me and I have always received positive vibes from the fans.?

Marshall has enjoyed a love affair with local cricket fans ever since setting Wellington Oval alight as a colt by clouting Somerset?s Robert (Jumping Jack) Hinds for six over mid-wicket off the final ball of the match to finish unbeaten on 100 in 1980 ? the first colt to achieve the milestone.

The year before Marshall captained Bermuda?s national youth team to glory at the International Youth Tournament (IYT) in Toronto where he remains just as popular today as he did then as a 17-year-old teenager who would later be described by world renowned West Indian cricket commentator Tony Cozier as ?one of the best cover point fielders in the world?.

And although Marshall no longer pounces around in the covers, his prowess with the bat has not diminished, often prompting public outcry over his omission from the national squad in which he has served his country well over the years.

?People encourage me on a daily basis to keep going,? Marshall said. ?They tell me not to give up because I am still doing well and enjoying the game. So why stop now??

At the current rate, Marshall could end up following in the footsteps of Clarence Parfitt, McDonald Simmons and Anthony Roberts as players who retired from the sport well into their 50s.

As for the composition of the champions? team this year, Marshall noted: ?I honestly feel it is a great all-round team capable of defending the trophy because we have a very balanced side.?